THE Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has cautioned the Federal government against using the 2023 national population census as an avenue to siphon public fund.
The council also warned the Federal government against allowing the population census to be a waste of resources and time.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, April 28, the chairman of the IPAC, Lagos state chapter, Olusegun Mobolaji, emphasised that the essence of the exercise should not be futile and defeated.
According to Mobolaji, “It is a good step in the right direction. Under a normal circumstance, any nation that cares about its people and their well-being, as well as about development and infrastructure should conduct this at regular intervals.
“We just pray that this will not be an exercise in futility or another channel of siphoning public funds.
“I am afraid this will not bring financial corruption that will still take away the little resources that we have as a nation.
“It should not be a waste of the nation’s resources without bringing desired results. We should guard against anything that can make it another waste of resources and time.”
IPAC hoped that the results and data obtained from the census would be useful in the provision of essential services and amenities for all citizens
He said, “This data and statistics should help the government to make proper provisions for all categories of citizens that we have.
“We should know the average number of people and the age category so as to make provision when it comes to education, health and other basic amenities for the people.”
He further tasked the federal government to utilize the exercise to generate improvement and advancement for Nigeria.
He said, “We have everything it takes to grow this nation, make it rapidly developing and build the economy.
“When we look at the motive behind the population census, everyone knows it is a good thing in the right direction. But will Nigeria not remain the same because of leadership failure after the enumeration?
“This exercise should give Nigerians confidence that things will change for good for them.”
The IPAC chief urged that the incoming administration to use the exercise to effect development and positive changes in the country.
Postponement of the 2023 general Census
The ICIR had reported that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, earlier scheduled for May 3 to May 7, 2023 indefinitely.
Buhari made this known through a statement signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on April 29.
According to the statement, the new date for the census would be determined by the incoming administration, which will be led by the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
Part of the statement read: “In arriving at the decision to postpone the Census, the meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people.”
Buhari explained that with the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the country, conduct of first and second pretests, the recruitment and training of adhoc workers and procurement of personal digital assistants (PDAs) and ICT infrastructure, remarkable progress had been made in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
He commended the methodology being put in place by the Commission to conduct an accurate and reliable census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world class census and laying a sustainable basis for future census exercises.
Stories with punches holding the powerful accountable. His determination to speak out against corruption and influence the conversation in Nigeria, the surrounding region and the continent inspires him.