The
Senate on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to set machinery in
motion to conduct housing and population census in 2018.
Emanating from a motion by Sen. Suleiman
Hunkuyi, at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja, the senate also urged the
government to make adequate provision of fund for the exercise.
Motion the motion entitled “A call for
The Federal Government to Expedite Action on the Planned 2018 National
Census”, Hunkuyi reminded the government of constitutional provision for
conduct of census.
He recalled that the last census was
conducted in 2006 during the administration of former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, and said that by the 10-year provision for the exercise to be
conducted, it out to be in this year.
He said that delay in the issuance of a
proclamation by President Buhari and poor release of funds to the
National Population Commission (NPoPC), were major setbacks to conduct
of the exercise.
Hunkuyi said that in accordance with
best international practices, a well planned and executed population
census should take a minimum of two years.
“It is only pertinent that subsequent
population census should be carried out within an adequate timing and an
objective of conducting an acceptable exercise.
“Secretary to Government of the
Federation (SGF), NPoPC, Ministry of Budget and National Planning and
other supervising agencies must make adequate provision in 2017 budget
as critical prerequisite to achieving 2017/2018 population census,” he
said.
Sen. John Enoh, in his contribution,
reiterated the need for relevant government agencies to include the
total cost of conducting the census in the 2017 budget.
He stressed that the Federal Government
should adhere to the United Nations provision that censuses should be
conducted every 10 years.
Post a Comment