President Tinubu Rejects ₦942 Billion Census Budget, Proposes Corps Members For Cost Reduction

President Bola Tinubu has rejected the National Population Commission’s (NPC) proposed ₦942 billion budget for Nigeria’s long-overdue national census, insisting that the exercise must be conducted at a significantly lower cost.

During a meeting at the State House on Monday, February 24, 2025, Tinubu directed that alternative cost-cutting measures be implemented, including the use of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to reduce personnel expenses. He also ordered the creation of a committee to reassess the budget and align it with the government’s financial constraints.

“This stop-and-go approach to the census won’t work with me. We need a clear path,” Tinubu stated, according to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The President emphasized the need to explore domestic funding options before seeking financial support from development partners.

Sources familiar with the meeting revealed that while Tinubu remains committed to conducting the census, he considers the proposed budget—nearly ₦1 trillion—unrealistic. “The President’s position is clear: the census must happen, but not at this cost,” a source disclosed.

To further streamline expenses, Tinubu proposed integrating the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) into the process, leveraging biometric capturing such as facial and voice recognition to enhance accuracy.

Nigeria’s last census was conducted in 2006, with repeated delays preventing subsequent efforts. The 2023 exercise, scheduled under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was postponed due to funding challenges, political transitions, and security concerns.

Despite technological advancements in digital mapping and biometric systems, the Tinubu administration continues to face financial and logistical hurdles in organizing a new census. However, with cost-cutting now a priority, the government is working on a revised plan to ensure the long-awaited headcount takes place efficiently.

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Posted: at 8-03-2025 07:10 PM (2 months ago) | Addicted Hero

Na wa oh

Posted: at 8-03-2025 10:41 PM (2 months ago) | Hero

Hahaha...they want to share almost 1trillion naira in the name of "counting people"....instead of these clowns to invest that amount in hospitals for proper birth and death documentation, they want to share it..when VDM talk say na people with dusty brains dey rule una, y'all think he said too much.

Posted: at 9-03-2025 05:47 AM (2 months ago) | Hero