FG Clarifies Census Panel’s Role as Reps Protest South-East Exclusion

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, yesterday, in Abuja, clarified that the Presidential Committee on Population and Housing Census is an ad hoc technical body to identify funding sources for the upcoming enumeration of Nigerians.

He spoke at the committee’s inaugural meeting, inaugurated last week by President Bola Tinubu, to provide informed guidance on financing strategies, institutional coordination, and practical timelines for the exercise.

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Bagudu chairs the committee, which includes Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Mr. Nasir Kwarra, as secretary; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Olawale Edun; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris; Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue, Dr. Zach Adedeji; Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Bisoye Coker-Odusote; Principal Private Secretary to the President, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration (Office of the Chief of Staff), Mr. Temilola Adekunle-Johnson.

He said the committee was distinct from the NPC, the body legally mandated to plan, coordinate, and conduct population and housing censuses in the country.

Bagudu explained that the committee was an ad hoc advisory body created to provide targeted guidance on specific areas of census planning and resourcing, emphasising that members were appointed based on their offices’ strategic responsibilities.

He stated that the committee’s role was to advise strictly within its five-point terms of reference, which include conducting a thorough review of the existing census budget to ensure alignment with current fiscal realities and national priorities.

He listed other terms as recommendations for feasible funding sources for the census, distinguishing between domestic resources and external partnerships, while developing a comprehensive resource mobilisation strategy that considers engagement with potential development partners, international agencies, and domestic private sector entities.

The minister stated that the ad hoc body would also evaluate the NPC’s existing preparations, logistics, and technical capacities, and recommend areas for immediate strengthening.

The body has also proposed a budget of N949 billion for the exercise.

IN a related vein, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation of House Standing and Ad hoc Committees, Obi Aguocha, has called for the reconstitution of the presidential committee, citing the exclusion of the South-East.

Aguocha noted that if the process is questionable, such would affect the outcome of the exercise.

In an interview with journalists, the lawmaker held that the exclusion required the panel’s reconstitution.

He said: “I agree that a credible census will lead to equitable distribution of resources and even growth and development, but if the process is questionable, it is going to be difficult to get transparent, credible and acceptable results.”

Aguocha, who represents Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State,
appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reconstitute the committee in such a way that it would reflect federal character principles.

Tinubu had, through his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, on April 16, 2025, inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Population and Housing Census, chaired by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.