President Buhari Postpones 2023 Population and Housing Census Indefinitely

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census earlier scheduled to hold from 3 May - 7 May 2023, to a date to be determined by the incoming Administration.

This is contained in a press statement signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, released this Saturday morning.

According to the Information Minister, the President gave the approval for the postponement of the 2023 Census Exercise after meeting with some members of the Federal Executive Council and the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) and his team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday (28 April 2023).

In arriving at the decision to postpone the Census, the meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people.

The President noted that with the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the country, conduct of first and second pretests, the recruitment and training of adhoc workers, procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and ICT infrastructures, appreciable progress has been made in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

He also commended the methodology being put in place by the Commission to conduct accurate and reliable Census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world class Census and laying a sustainable basis for future censuses

The President further directed the Commission to continue with preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census in order to sustain the gains already recorded and provide the basis for the incoming administration to consolidate these achievements.

The meeting was attended by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed; the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.

The Postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census however suggests that the Census Exercise will still be conducted in 2023 but will be done by the Tinubu/Shettima Administration as lots of preparation have already been made.

The New Date for the 2023 Census will be fixed by the New Administration after the May 29 Inauguration of the Tinubu/Shettima Administration.