Tinubu rejects N942bn census budget, proposes use of corps members

President Bola Tinubu has declined the National Population Commission’s (NPC) proposed N942 billion budget for the upcoming national housing and population census, urging officials to find ways to cut costs.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the President met with NPC leadership, led by Chairman Nasir Kwarra, at the State House on February 24, 2025. During the meeting, Tinubu suggested utilizing National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to reduce personnel expenses.

One insider revealed, “The main issue from that meeting was that the money they were proposing was quite much. It is around N942bn. That is almost N1tn. And the President felt that it was too much. That is why he said there would be a committee to look at the issues altogether because that cost must come down.”

The President assured the NPC team that he would establish a committee to reassess the budget and align it with the country’s fiscal situation.

“This stop-and-go activity on the census cannot work with me. So, we better have a definite path,” Tinubu stated, according to a release from his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“I will set up a committee for you to look at the issues critically and do a source and application of resources. Where can we get help, and what can we lift before we embark on proclamation?” the President added.

Another source disclosed that Tinubu’s cost-cutting suggestions included a widespread deployment of NYSC members. “He was even suggesting that they recruit youth corps members to make it cheaper,” the official said.

Although details about the committee are still emerging, a third source mentioned, “We have heard nothing about that committee for now. It is still being put together as we speak. But the agencies concerned will be on it.”

Tinubu emphasized the importance of involving the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in the review process.

“We must ascertain who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data. Without an accurate census, we can’t successfully plan for employment, agriculture, and food sovereignty,” he noted.

The President also stressed that biometric data collection — including facial and voice recognition — should be central to the census process, stating, “We should work on our financial muscle well in place to lift our burden before we go and meet development partners for the census. We should work out the figures before discussing the role of development partners.”

Nigeria’s last census was conducted in 2006, with multiple attempts to conduct another thwarted by logistical issues, funding shortfalls, and political transitions. The 2023 exercise was postponed due to overlapping challenges, including budget constraints and the transfer of power from the previous administration.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, highlighted the importance of census data for national planning and resource allocation.

“Mr President, we have been having ecosystem meetings to link the identity agencies, even the geo-spatial chaired by the ministry, because of our mandate as the supervising ministry of the National Bureau of Statistics,” Bagudu explained.

The NPC chairman reported that the commission had acquired 760,000 tablets, stored securely at the Central Bank of Nigeria, and would engage development partners for support once Tinubu gives the green light for the census.

(PUNCH)