The House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Federal
Government to fix dates for national census scheduled in the fourth
quarter of 2019.
The lawmakers lamented that different figures were being bandied
around as government has failed to count its own people many years after
the last exercise.
Under “Matters of Urgent Public Importance”, Rep. Ossy Prestige
(Abia-APGA), harped on the need to conduct the census for proper
planning and development in Nigeria.
Prestige quoted United Nations Fund for Population Activities as
saying that Nigeria had a dynamic economy and large population expected
to double in the next two decades.
He said that census was pivotal and necessary tool for the growth of
any emerging society, which in turns informed decision-making at all
facets of public and private sector.
Prestige pointed out that the last census was held in 2006, and that
the nation’s population then was estimated at 140,431,790 million with
estimated growth of less than three per cent yearly.
The lawmaker expressed concern that the lack of up-to-date and
accurate data on the population in Nigeria had affected national
planning and development at all levels that culminated in human and
agricultural insecurity in Nigeria.
He said that a census based on biometric data would capture all
Nigerians, adding that it would also help to solve problems of
infiltration and internal security including kidnapping, terrorism and
armed robbery.
The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.
The House, therefore, urged the government to make provisions for
census funds in 2019 Budget and also appealed to international
communities to support same.
It further asked the Federal Government to mobilise the NPC for the
completion of Enumeration Area Demarcation and preliminary preparation
of the census.
The House also mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to
liaise with the NPC for strict compliance and report back to it for
further legislative action.