N’Assembly Will Support NPC to Conduct Credible Census – Akpabio
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has assured the National Population Commission (NPC) that the National Assembly will give it the necessary support to conduct a credible Census for Nigeria as soon as it is practicable.
Akpabio gave the assurance when a delegation comprising members of the NPC and and the management staff of the Commission led by its Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
“We will do our best to push for the next Census to take place as soon as it is practicable, ” the Senate President told his guests.
Akpabio said the issue of Census is an executive function but the parliament has the responsibility to give the exercise the required legislative backing.
According to the Senate President: “You want us to assist you to give you the legal backing to commence your work. And you are saying that with the preparation made so far, it is possible for us to conduct this exercise in 2025. That is your submission.
“We will discuss it in both chambers and thereafter we will meet with the Executive. The Census exercise is an executive function. We can only do the enabling Act.
“It is a very important exercise for the purpose of planning because any country that fails to plan has planned to fail and the planning starts with this Census. Let us know how many we are.
“We will support you as a parliament. The Senate will be happy to support you. We will intercede for you. We will make a case for you and we will be very glad if we can partner together, with your Commission, vis-a-vis the Federal Government, to have a Census for Nigeria so that we can plan for the future of this country,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of NPC, Hon Nasir Isa Kwarra briefed the Senate President on the activities of the Commission and the extent
of its preparedness for the conduct of the next Census.
He said another Census was due since 2016 and that the Commission was on the verge of conducting the Census in 2023 before it was put off, pending the inauguration of a new administration in the country.
The Commission said it is currently working with both the relevant Senate and House Committees on the much needed amendment to make the enabling law conform to digital Census, unlike in the past which was analogue.
“We are requesting the support of the National Assembly. Let us have this Census taking place by the year 2025.
“We really need to count ourselves to know how many we are. How we are distributed, the age structure and all the details that we need,” Hon Kwarra said.
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