The Federal Government has clarified that the recently inaugurated Presidential Committee on Population and Housing Census is a temporary technical body established to source funding and design strategic frameworks to support the successful conduct of Nigeria’s long-awaited national census.
The clarification came through a statement posted by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle in Abuja.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, who chairs the committee, said at the committee’s inaugural meeting that its core responsibility is to provide expert advice on census financing, institutional coordination, and the development of a practical timeline for execution.
According to Bagudu, the committee operates independently of the National Population Commission (NPC), which remains the statutory agency responsible for planning and conducting the actual population and housing census. Instead, the committee will act as an advisory body, offering targeted guidance on technical and financial preparations.
Inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the committee includes high-ranking representatives from key federal institutions. Notable members include:
Mr. Nasir Kwarra, Chairman of the NPC (serving as Secretary),
Mr. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy,
Mr. Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation,
Dr. Zach Adedeji, Executive Chairman, FIRS,
Ms. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, DG, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC),
Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Principal Private Secretary to the President,
Mr. Temilola Adekunle-Johnson, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration.
Bagudu outlined the committee’s five-point terms of reference, which include a review of the census budget to align with current national priorities, identification of feasible funding sources, and the creation of a comprehensive resource mobilisation strategy. This strategy is expected to involve development partners, international agencies, and private sector stakeholders.
The committee will also assess the technical readiness of the NPC, pinpointing areas that require immediate support, and recommend a realistic and achievable date for the national enumeration, factoring in logistics, funding, and national security.
Speaking on the critical nature of the census, Bagudu said, “A national census is not a routine administrative exercise; it is a sovereign investment in evidence. It forms the bedrock of sound policy, planning, and development outcomes.”
