The Senate on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to set a process in motion to conduct housing and population census in 2018.

Coming from a motion by Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi, at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja, the Senate also urged the government to make adequate provision of funds for the exercise.

The motion entitled “A call for The Federal Government to Expedite Action on the Planned 2018 National Census,” had Hunkuyi reminding the government of constitutional provisions for conduct of a federal census.

Th last census was conducted in 2006 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and said that by the 10-year cycle for conducting the exercise, it was time to begin the process.

He said delays in the issuance of a proclamation by President Buhari and non-release of funds to the National Population Commission (NPoPC) were major setbacks to the exercise.

Hunkuyi said that in accordance with best international practices, a well planned and executed population census should take a minimum of two years.

“It is only pertinent that subsequent population census should be carried out within an adequate timing…

“Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), NPoPC, Ministry of Budget and National Planning and other supervising agencies must make adequate provision in 2017 budget as critical prerequisite to achieving 2017/2018 population census,” he said.

Sen. John Enoh, in his contribution, reiterated the need for relevant government agencies to include the total cost of conducting the census in the 2017 budget.

He stressed that the federal government should adhere to the United Nations’ provision that censuses be conducted every 10 years.

Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha said that there was need to keep records of births, deaths and a demographic profile of the country’s population.

“It is important for us to support this motion and ensure that funds are released for the conduct of the national population census and call on President Buhari to make a proclamation,’’ he said.

 

Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu warned the population Commission not to conduct a national census that would become an issue for deliberation.

He said that every Nigerian must be counted and that technology should be deployed in order to produce credible results.

“I want to thank the sponsor of the motion. As we approach the next census, we must take advantage of the development in technology and make the results of the exercise acceptable.

“All the previous exercises have been disputed. We want this exercise to count. Every Nigerian must be counted and no one should be counted twice,” Ekweremadu said.

(Source: NAN)