By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi has described the Federal Government’s decision to postpone the 2023 Population and Housing Census as “propitious and welcome development.”
METROWATCHXTRA.COM recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved the postponement of the census earlier scheduled for May 3 – 7 to a date to be determined by the incoming administration.
In a statement by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, he said Buhari gave the approval after meeting with some members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) and his team.
“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.
“This will help 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 Minister, who doubles as Chairman of the Census’ National Publicity and Advocacy Committee said.
Reacting to the news of the postponement, Obi said “even though Nigeria is long overdue for a census, conducting one requires proper planning and diligence to ensure the sanctity of the results; the efficacy of the data gathered therefrom, as well as their utility in driving national development goals, our living standards and growing national housing deficits.”
While describing the National Census as a critical development and nation-building tool, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate expressed hope that when eventually the census is conducted, it will serve as confidence-building measures instead of being fraught.
