Following a meeting with the National Population Commission Chairman and a few members of the Federal Executive Council, the President gave his approval.
The 2023 Population and Housing Census, which was originally planned to take place from May 3 to 7, has been postponed, with approval from President Muhammadu Buhari, until a time to be selected by the incoming administration.
This is in accordance with a statement that Lai Mohammed, the minister of information and culture, gave to Channels Television on Saturday.
Following a Friday meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with Nasir Isa-Kwarra, Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), and his team, Buhari was reported to have given the go-ahead.
“In reaching the decision to postpone the Census, the meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the country’s developmental goals and raise the standard of living for Nigerians,” the statement said.
“The President noted that significant progress has been made in implementing the 2023 Population and Housing Census with the completion of the country’s Enumeration Area Demarcation, the conducting of first and second pretests, the recruitment and training of adhoc workers, the procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and ICT infrastructures.
See the full statement below:
PRESS STATEMENT
President Buhari Approves Postponement of 2023 Census
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, earlier scheduled for 3-7 May 2023, to a date to be determined by the incoming Administration.
The President gave the approval after 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 (28 April 2023).
In arriving at the decision to postpone the Census, the meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people.
The President noted that with the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the country, conduct of first and second pretests, the recruitment and training of adhoc workers, procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and ICT infrastructures, appreciable progress has been made in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
He also commended the methodology being put in place by the Commission to conduct accurate and reliable Census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world class Census and laying a sustainable basis for future censuses
The President further directed the Commission to continue with preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census in order to sustain the gains already recorded and provide the basis for the incoming administration to consolidate these achievements.
The meeting was attended by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed; the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
Honourable Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
29th April 2023
