The Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Smart Adeyemi, during the Senate Committee on Appropriation on Wednesday warned the Federal Government (FG) against conducting the 2022 National Census.
He said going ahead with the exercise would consume over ₦400 billion when no part of Nigeria is safe for such exercise to be effectively conducted.
Adeyemi, who is representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the red chamber, also argued that spending ₦400 billion on a census when there were unemployment and hunger in the land, did not make any economic sense.
He said, “I’m looking at this issue from a practical point of view. The only area that is a bit safe in Nigeria today is the South-West geopolitical zone. There is an assumption of tight security for people to move around there.
“All other zones in Nigeria today are unsafe. There are killings every day, especially in the northern region.
“Over three-quarters of those that have died in Nigeria are northerners. In Kogi State on Wednesday gunmen took over a town for four hours and killed people.
” Census is important but it is definitely not expedient. Our people are dying daily. We must guarantee security. Movement of goods and services or else we are deceiving ourselves.
“NPC has determined to do the job, there is no doubt about your competence. However, between you and your God, you know Nigeria is not safe to conduct a census today.
“You cannot go from Sokoto to Ilela, that is the truth. Nobody can move around again. Census is important but we need to be alive to conduct it.
The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Alhaji Nasir Isa Kwarra, has proposed the sum of ₦400 billion to conduct the exercise which he said would start in May next year.
He also allayed the fears of Nigerians on the issue of insecurity stressing that the security operatives would handle the situation.
He said, “Every Nigerian is worried about insecurity but it should not stop us from conducting census because we need to produce accurate data for policymakers to make policies that would enable the country to address many challenges including insecurity.
“Holidays would be declared when we want to conduct a census. The security agents would take care of anyone found on the streets of Nigeria.
Kwarra, told the Committee that the total estimated cost for the National Census slated for next year is ₦400 billion.
He said, “Our initial proposal was ₦217 billion which was presented about four years ago. However, due to inflation, naira devaluation and labour cost, we have to jerk it up.
“Our job is labour intensive and because we would employ over 1.5 million, we have to increase our budget to about N400bn.
The Senate Committee on Appropriation, at the end of the session, said the submission presented by the NPC would be added to the expected one from INEC on Monday next week.
The Chairman of the panel, Senator Barau Jibrin, however, adopted the NPC proposals despite Adeyemi’s opposing views.
He said the proposals would form parts of his committee’s report which would be laid before the Senate for consideration and passage on Tuesday next week.
