Why we postponed the 2023 census indefinitely — NPC

 

The National Population Commission (NPC) has announced that the 2023 census exercise has been postponed to enable the incoming administration's adequate participation. 

The Commission's Director of Public Affairs Department, Dr Isiaka Yahaya, revealed this in an interview with Sunday Tribune in Abuja. Dr Yahaya emphasized that it is crucial for the new administration to be familiar with the processes used in collecting census data, and this informed the decision to postpone the exercise.

He further explained that the census's primary objective is not just to collect data but also to ensure that it is utilized for planning purposes. Therefore, it is essential that the incoming administration is involved in the data collection process to have confidence in the data's accuracy. Dr Yahaya noted that it would not be wise to simply hand over the data to the new administration at a later stage without their participation in the collection process, as this could affect their trust in the data.

However, since the preparations for the census exercise are at an advanced stage, it presents an opportunity for the incoming administration to participate in the collection process and understand how the census will be conducted. Dr Yahaya believes that this will increase their faith in using the data, making it a crucial reason for the postponement. He added that it is beneficial for the administration at both the national and state levels to understand the census's procedures to ensure optimal utilization of the data.

The Director of Public Affairs Department at the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr Isiaka Yahaya, has dismissed claims that the postponement of the 2023 census exercise was due to inadequate preparation and funding. Dr Yahaya clarified that the federal government had provided all the necessary funds required to carry out the census exercise, and the decision to postpone was not sudden.

Dr Yahaya explained that the NPC had anticipated the postponement and had made all necessary preparations. He added that the government had already started providing the required funds, and the NPC had no doubts that the funds for the main exercise would be made available. However, certain considerations came into play, making the postponement necessary.

The federal government had earlier postponed the census exercise indefinitely, which was initially scheduled to commence on May 3, 2023. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced in a statement issued on Saturday that the exercise would now hold on a date to be determined by the incoming administration. This decision was made after the President's approval, following his meeting with some members of the Federal Executive Council and the Chairman of the National Population Commission and his team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.