The National Population Commission (NPC) of Nigeria is facing a parliamentary inquiry over the alleged mismanagement of 200 billion naira ($480 million) allocated for the 2023 census. The House of Representatives Committee on Population has summoned the NPC chairman and other officials to explain how they spent the funds and why they failed to conduct a pilot census in July 2022 as planned.
The NPC is responsible for conducting the national census, which is supposed to take place every 10 years according to the constitution. The last census was held in 2006 and was marred by controversies and allegations of manipulation. The 2023 census is expected to be the first digital census in Nigeria’s history, using mobile devices and geographic information systems to create digital maps and capture data.
However, the NPC has been accused of wasting public funds and delaying the census process. The House Committee on Population said it received petitions from concerned Nigerians alleging that the NPC had misappropriated the funds for the census and had not carried out any preparatory activities.
The committee also expressed dissatisfaction with the NPC’s performance and accountability, saying it had not submitted its annual reports and audited accounts for several years. The committee said it would investigate the NPC’s expenditure and activities and report its findings to the House.
The NPC chairman, Nasir Kwarra, denied wrongdoing and said that the commission had used the funds judiciously and transparently. He said that the NPC had completed the demarcation of enumeration areas, procured census materials and equipment, trained staff, and engaged stakeholders for the census. He also said that the pilot census was postponed due to security challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic but would be conducted soon.
The 2023 census is expected to provide reliable and detailed data on the size, structure, distribution, and socio-economic characteristics of Nigeria’s population, estimated to be over 220 million people. The census data is crucial for policy intervention and monitoring of development goals, as well as for political representation and resource allocation.
The NPC has appealed for the support and cooperation of all Nigerians to ensure a successful and credible census that will reflect the true demographic situation of the country.
