National Population Commission (NPC) Clarifies: Postponement of Census 2023 Aimed at Preventing National Crisis

The National Population Commission (NPC) has clarified that the recent postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census was not due to insufficient funds, as widely believed, but rather to avert a national crisis. 

During a meeting with stakeholders in Jos, Plateau State, the Federal Commissioner, Mrs. Cecilia Dapoet, provided insights into the reasons behind the decision.

Initially scheduled for May 3-7, 2023, the census exercise was met with various speculations and media attention surrounding the postponement. However, Dapoet emphasized that the real cause was not financial constraints but rather the government's transition program and the post-election atmosphere in the country. 

Considering the uncertainty that prevailed after the elections, the NPC deemed it necessary to avoid potential pitfalls and further trouble for the nation.

Dapoet expressed confidence that the delay would give the new administration, led by President Bola Tinubu, ample time to adequately prepare for the census. She also assured that when a new date is set, the NPC will conduct the first digital census in Nigeria. The necessary handheld devices have already been acquired and are securely stored at the Central Bank in Jos, along with the prepared software.

The NPC is taking advantage of this postponement to reassess its Census Work-plan, incorporating valuable inputs to enhance the implementation strategies and ensure optimal success. 

Dapoet stressed the importance of overcoming past issues such as undercounting, multiple counting, and inaccurate enumeration, which led to a lack of trust in census data and hindered planning and development efforts. The Commission has implemented measures to prevent political interference with the census process.

Mrs. Felicia Mwolpun, the Plateau State Director of the NPC, appealed to citizens to cooperate and support the Commission in achieving its goals. 

The NPC aims to conduct a transparent and reliable census that can serve as a solid foundation for future planning and development initiatives.