President Bola Tinubu has turned down a N942bn proposal by the National Population Commission for the conduct of the national housing and population census.
Impeccable sources privy to the discussions between Tinubu and the commission’s top officials on Monday, February 24, 2025, at the State House, revealed that the President insisted on cost-cutting measures.
According to the insiders, the President suggested the deployment of members of the National Youth Service Corps for the exercise.
After being briefed by officials of the NPC led by its Chairman, Nasir Kwarra, Tinubu promised to set up a committee to align the census budget to the government’s present financial realities.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement titled, ‘Nigeria moves closer to fresh census, President Tinubu to set up committee,’ quoted
Tinubu as saying “This stop-and-go activity on the census cannot work with me. So, we better have a definite path.
Tinubu was quoted to have said further, “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?”
Revealing more details on the development one of the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity told our correspondent that while the President wanted the census to be conducted, he insisted that the cost must be reduced.
The government official said, “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.
“He wants to do it. He wants the census to happen. But the cost is too high. His goal is that they should do it for less.”
Another insider at the meeting further revealed that Tinubu suggested a massive deployment of NYSC members nationwide to cut personnel costs.
“He was even suggesting that they recruit youth corps members to make it cheaper,” the official revealed.
Text execpt headline courtesy Punch
