The Federal Government says over $1.88 billion (N869 billion) is needed to conduct the 2023 population and housing census. “I don’t know how many Nigerians will want to be counted for such amount of money? asks Dr. Bolaji O.Akinyemi.
“We as Nigerians don’t wish to be counted at the rate of.869,000k per head’ – Adesanya-Davies
On March 8, 2023, it was reported that in several newsline, that “The Nigerian government says over $1.88 billion (N869 billion) is needed to conduct the 2023 population and housing census.
Just listen to yourself, as Nigerians suffer for lack of food and money, what a contradiction, the “Nigerian government says over $1.88 billion (N869 billion)” for census!!! Exclaims Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, the Voice of Voiceless Nigerians. May I say, “Census our foot!”
We would recall, “the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral C o m m i s s i o n (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu had presented a budget estimate of N355 billion before the Senate Committee on INEC, led by former Kano State governor, Kabiru Gaya.” We are yet to be through with that, in place of more economical electronic voting by the use of our phones and ATM cards. Ah!
In April 2022, the government announced that it would conduct the census in April 2023 after the elections. How could that be, while INEC has almost just expended over 355 Billion naira on elections. Is everything ok with Nigeria? Are we alright at all!
Speaking at a high-level partner engagement in Abuja on Monday, Clement Agba, minister of state for budget and national planning, said the federal government has provided 46 per cent of the budget.
Agba said there still remains an outstanding of N327.2 billion needed to carry out the census effectively.
The total requirements for this census, including the post-census activities, is N869 billion. This is about 1.88 billion US dollars,” he said.
“When you hear the numbers, they really look very huge. Censuses all over the world, the average is between four to six dollars. However, in the United States, they spend $16 per person. In Botswana, they spend about $10 per person. So Nigeria’s $6 per person, you’ll agree with me, is very reasonable.
“So far, the government has spent 291.5 billion naira, which is $632 million. This is about 46 per cent of the requirement for the census. I know this time around we’re not just doing only the population census. We’re also doing a housing census.
So, the additional requirements for the critical items to ensure the census is done is 327.2 billion naira. This is about 709.9 million US dollars.”
Agba explained that the government has not conducted a census in almost two decades due to the change in administration, recession, and COVID-19, among others.
He said the census would be digital, green, and transformative, adding that beyond insecurity and cultural issues, funding remains a major challenge for the exercise.
He said the government needs support from the public both “in cash and kind”, to, among other things, purchase tablets for enumerators, internet and data connectivity, as well as conduct training.
Adesanya-Davies says, whether ‘CENSUS IS IMPERATIVE FOR INVESTMENT DECISIONS’ or
‘POPULATION SIZE A VITAL TOOL FOR MEASURING SDGs INDICATORS’ as cited as reasons by Agba, “We as Nigerians look forward to the exit of President Muhammadu Buhari on 29th May, and we don’t wish to be counted at the rate of.869,000k per head for heaven sake!
The Federal Government says over $1.88 billion (N869 billion) is needed to conduct the 2023 population and housing census. “I don’t know how many Nigerians will want to be counted for such amount of money? asks Dr. Bolaji O.Akinyemi.
May I state that such money should be given to individual Nigerians per head as palliative at this time of cashless and moneyless, Nigerian 2023 self inflicted pandemic; while the exercise should be postponed indefinitely. The estimated budget is again rather too exorbitant comparatively while compared with other countries. Haba, where is the money for such big elephant project in Nigeria now!? Adesanya-Davies concludes.
Read more
*‘We need N869bn to conduct census’ — FG begs for donations*
https://insightlinks.net/we-need-n869bn-to-conduct-census-fg-begs-for-donations/