National census postponed to May 2023
The national population census which was scheduled to hold in March has been shifted to May, 2023.
This was made known by the minister of information and culture Lai Mohammed on Wednesday 15th March 2023 as he addressed newsmen after the federal executive council meeting presided by president Muhammadu Buhari.
This decision was eminent since the gubernatorial elections were postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to 18th March, 2023.
Recall that INEC were to hold the presidential election on Saturday 25th February, 2023. And then hold the governorship elections on the 11th March, 2023. However, due to irregularities and tension arising from the presidential elections, INEC had to shift the governorship elections by an extra week.
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Issues encountered at the presidential elections outing included reconfiguration of the BVAS machines, and other slight logistics issues. Although INEC have asssured Nigerians of a smooth and hitch free governorship elections come 18th, March with claims that flaws noted from the presidential elections will be corrected.
The postponement of the national population census can be attributed to the election chaos also. Although the minister assured newsmen that the national population commission is working tirelessly on beginning the exercise by may.
He also made it known that the commission had been approved of 2.8 billion naira by the council. This is to be used for procurement of softwares that will be used for the conduct of the census.
“There was a memo presented by the National Population Commission, seeking for some software to allow them conduct the census in May this year. I believe because of the rescheduling of the elections, they cannot commence the census as scheduled.
They sought Council’s approval for a contract to procure software for the census at the sum of N2.8 billion”. He said.
National census postponed to May 2023.
