The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to announce a date when the next census in the fourth quarter of 2019 will commence.
The lawmakers made the request during plenary on Wednesday at the lower chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Following a motion sponsored by Mr Prestige Ossy, they noted that the National Population Commission (NPC) is saddled with the responsibility of gathering, collating and analysing demographic data such as a census.
The lawmakers referred to the data from the United Nation Fund for Population Activities that Nigeria has a dynamic economy and a large population expected to double in next two decades.
They stressed that the most significant feature of any society is human capital and census a pivotal tool for the growth which in turn informs decision making at all facts and endeavours of both government and private sectors.
The House recalled that the last census was held in 2006 while Nigeria’s population was estimated at 140,431,790 with an annual estimated growth of less than three per cent.
They decried that 12 years after the census, the current population of Nigeria is not known and the estimated 297 million presented by the NPC cannot be said to be accurate or reliable.
The lawmakers were also worried that the lack of up to date and accurate data on population has affected national planning and development at all levels, culminating into human and agricultural insecurity in the country.
They opined that a census based on bio-metrics data would capture all Nigerians and help to solve the problems of internal security challenges such as the farmers-herdsmen unrest, terrorism, and kidnapping among other crimes.
The House then resolved to call on the government to make provisions for census funds in the 2019 appropriation bill and mobilise NPC for the completion of Enumeration Area Demarcation and preliminary preparation of the census.
