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The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-level advisory committee tasked with ensuring adequate funding and strategic planning for Nigeria’s upcoming digital population and housing census.
The committee, chaired by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, was formed following a February 24 briefing by the National Population Commission (NPC) to President Bola Tinubu on the nation’s readiness for a comprehensive census. The NPC had proposed a N949 billion budget for the digital enumeration exercise, which will feature biometric data collection.
Speaking at the committee’s inaugural meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, Bagudu emphasized that the committee is a temporary but crucial body created to offer technical guidance on financing, institutional coordination, and realistic timelines for the census. He clarified that the committee does not replace the NPC, which remains the statutory body responsible for conducting the census.
The committee’s key responsibilities include reviewing the existing census budget to ensure it aligns with national priorities and fiscal realities, identifying sustainable funding sources both domestic and international and proposing a robust resource mobilization plan.
Additionally, the committee will assess the NPC’s technical readiness and propose improvements where necessary.
Other members of the committee include Minister of Finance Wale Edun, Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, FIRS Chairman Dr. Zach Adedeji, NIMC DG Ms. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, NPC Chairman Mr. Nasir Kwarra (serving as secretary), and senior presidential aides.
Bagudu highlighted the urgency of the assignment, calling the census a “sovereign investment in evidence-based governance” essential for tackling issues such as urbanisation, public health, and social protection. President Tinubu has mandated the committee to submit preliminary recommendations within three weeks.
“Our responsibility is to assess what exists, advise on what is feasible, and help unlock the next phase of action,” Bagudu said, stressing the importance of institutional synergy in delivering credible and timely census data.
The digital census is expected to be Nigeria’s most technologically advanced and inclusive enumeration yet, aimed at informing policy and development planning nationwide.
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