President Bola Tinubu has rejected the National Population Commission’s (NPC) proposed ₦942 billion budget for the upcoming national population and housing census, describing it as excessive.
Instead, he has suggested using National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to reduce costs.
During a meeting at the State House on February 24, 2025, with NPC officials led by Chairman Nasir Isa Kwarra, Tinubu emphasized the need for a more cost-effective approach to conducting the census. He directed the formation of a committee to review the budget and explore alternative funding sources.
“We should work on our financial muscle well in place to lift our burden before we go and meet development partners for the census,” Tinubu stated, stressing the importance of securing domestic resources before seeking external assistance.
The President also highlighted the critical role of accurate population data in national planning, particularly in areas such as employment, agriculture, and resource allocation. To ensure a more effective process, he called for the integration of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) into the census exercise.
“This stop-and-go activity on the census cannot work with me. So, we better have a definite path,” Tinubu asserted, indicating his dissatisfaction with past inconsistencies in census planning.
His proposal to use NYSC members aligns with his administration’s broader cost-cutting measures. By leveraging existing human resources, the government aims to achieve accurate and reliable population data without incurring the high personnel costs included in the NPC’s original budget.
While the specifics of the proposed review committee and its timeline have not yet been disclosed, further details are expected as the planning process moves forward.
