From Lateef Taiwo
The House of Representatives has resolved to probe the N200b Spent on the suspended 2023 Population and Housing Census in the country.
The House equally mandated it Committee to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
These were sequel to a motion moved during plenary yesterday by Hon Clement Akanni.
In his lead debate at the floor, the lawmaker expressed strong concern that the exercise that was expected to provide accurate and reliable demographic data of the nation’s population for socio-economic planning was suspended after huge amount of money was expended.
He further observed that the suspended national headcount exercise should have given the government guidelines for planning and policy formulation was cancelled after huge amount was spent observing that Nigerians deserve the right to be informed of how their tax payers money was used.
The House thereafter maintained that the investigation becomes necessary in view of the importance and the need to conduct Census to provide information required to guide policy and decision makers of the nation.
The House further stated: “Censuses are conducted by governments to gather accurate and comprehensive
information such as age, sex, marital status, education, occupation, housing, and other relevant
demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of a country”
“Data collected are used for a wide range of purposes, including policy-making,
resource allocation, urban planning, public health, education among others”.
Consequently, the House equally emphasized the urgent need for the country to be on the path of sustainable development with the rest of the world emphasizing the need to have a guided data for policy formulation in Nigeria.
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