President Bola Tinubu has rejected the National Population Commission’s (NPC) proposed N942bn budget for the upcoming national census, citing the need for cost-cutting measures. During a meeting on February 24, 2025, Tinubu emphasized reducing expenses and suggested deploying National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to minimize personnel costs.
The President announced plans to set up a committee to reassess the budget in line with the government’s financial constraints. He also stressed the importance of biometric data collection and collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for accurate demographic records.
Nigeria has not conducted a census since 2006, with past attempts hindered by funding issues, security concerns, and political transitions. The Federal Government continues to deliberate on the best approach to rescheduling the exercise while ensuring efficiency and accuracy.
