2023 CENSUS CERTAIN DESPITE ELECTION POSTPONEMENT – NPC

The National Population Commission (NPC) has assured Nigerians that it will conduct the 2023 Population and Housing Census amidst election postponement.

The Chairman of NPC, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, disclosed this while interacting with journalists during the official handover of high-tech laptops and accessories donated by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to the Commission at the UN House, Abuja.

UNFPA presented the equipment to support the 2023 Census Post Enumeration Survey (PES) and ensure qualitative and credible data.

Kwarra said although no specific date is fixed for the commencement of the 2023 Census exercise, but the census commencement date will be announced when he consults with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The State elections which were earlier scheduled to hold on 11th March 2023, has now been rescheduled to 18th March 2023 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The commencement of the 2023 Census earlier slated for March 29 is likely to be affected by the postponement of the governorship and State assembly elections.

He further applauded UNFPA for its continuous invaluable support and partnership.

“Over the years, the UNFPA’s partnership with the NPC has been invaluable in propelling the vision and mission of the Commission forward in its bid to strive for demographic excellence, a successful and fully digital 2023 Census and in turn the 2023 PES.

Thus far, the Commission and the UNFPA have spared no expense in the training and equipping the Commission’s ranks with the necessary tools, knowledge, and skills to undertake the 2023 PES in line with international best practices”. He added.

In her remarks, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Population Fund, Ms. Ulla Elizabeth Mueller, pledged the support of UNFPA in ensuring the success of the exercise.

She emphasized the significance of the Census exercise to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, adding that the conduct of a Post Enumeration Survey will also give credibility to the census.

She explained that the laptops donated to the Commission have all the software needed for the PES exercise.

Mueller stated the continuous support of the UNFPA to the Commission to deliver its mandate.