President Bola Tinubu rejected a N942bn proposal from the National Population Commission for the national housing and population census, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The meeting took place on Monday, February 24, 2025, at the State House.
During the meeting, Tinubu emphasized the need for cost-cutting measures and suggested utilizing members of the National Youth Service Corps for the census. He pledged to form a committee to adjust the census budget to align with the government’s current financial situation.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement titled, ‘Nigeria moves closer to fresh census, President Tinubu to set up committee,’ quoted Tinubu as saying “This stop-and-go activity on the census cannot work with me. So, we better have a definite path.
Tinubu was quoted to have said further, “I will set up a committee for you to look at the issues critically and do a source and application of resources. Where can we get help, and what can we lift before we embark on proclamation?”
A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that while Tinubu supported conducting the census, he was adamant about reducing the overall cost.
The government official said, “The main issue from that meeting was that the money they were proposing was quite much. It is around N942bn. That is almost N1tn. And the President felt that it was too much. That is why he said there would be a committee to look at the issues altogether because that cost must come down.
“He wants to do it. He wants the census to happen. But the cost is too high. His goal is that they should do it for less.”
Another insider at the meeting further revealed that Tinubu suggested a massive deployment of NYSC members nationwide to cut personnel costs.
“He was even suggesting that they recruit youth corps members to make it cheaper,” the official revealed.
However, a third source told Saturday PUNCH that the constituents and activities of Tinubu’s new committee were still unclear.
“We have heard nothing about that committee for now. It is still being put together as we speak. But the agencies concerned will be on it,” the source explained.
At the meeting, Tinubu had affirmed that the National Identity Management Commission must be part of the review.
