President Tinubu Rejects N942bn Census Budget, Proposes Use of Corps Members

President Bola Tinubu has turned down a proposal by the National Population Commission (NPC) requesting a budget of N942 billion for conducting Nigeria’s long-awaited national housing and population census. Sources privy to the discussions at the State House on Monday, February 24, 2025, revealed that Tinubu insisted on significant cost-cutting measures.

One of the primary cost-reduction strategies suggested by the President Tinubu was the deployment of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members as ad-hoc enumerators for the exercise. The President Tinubu also emphasized the need to align the census budget with Nigeria’s current economic realities.

President Tinubu Insists on Cost Efficiency

President Tinubu made it clear that while he supports the conduct of a new national census, the N942bn budget request was excessive. A government official who attended the meeting disclosed that President Tinubu stressed the need for a comprehensive review of the census budget to ensure that only necessary expenditures are included.

“The main issue from that meeting was that the money they were proposing was quite much. It is around N942bn. That is almost N1tn. The President Tinubu felt that it was too high,” an insider revealed.

To address the concerns, President Tinubu directed the formation of a committee tasked with evaluating the budget, identifying areas for cost reduction, and determining alternative funding sources. The President Tinubu’s goal is to ensure that the census is conducted without placing excessive financial strain on the government.

Proposal to Deploy NYSC Members

In a bid to reduce personnel costs, President Tinubu suggested utilizing NYSC members as census enumerators rather than hiring a separate workforce. A source familiar with the discussions revealed:

“He was even suggesting that they recruit youth corps members to make it cheaper.”

The suggestion aligns with the government’s broader strategy of maximizing existing human resources while minimizing additional spending. NYSC members, who are already stationed across all 774 local government areas, could serve as a cost-effective workforce to support the census exercise.

However, some concerns have been raised about the training, security, and effectiveness of corps members in conducting a nationwide enumeration. Experts believe that if properly trained and supervised, they could significantly reduce the financial burden of the census without compromising data accuracy.

Incorporation of Biometric and Digital Technologies

President Tinubu underscored the importance of accurate data collection, stating that a national census is essential for effective governance, economic planning, and social policy formulation. He directed that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) be fully involved in the process to ensure biometric capturing and avoid duplication of efforts.

“We must ascertain who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data. Without an accurate census, we can’t successfully plan for employment, agriculture, and food sovereignty,” Tinubu stated.

To improve data reliability, the NPC had earlier acquired 760,000 digital tablets, which are currently stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The President Tinubu has emphasized that any future census must integrate facial and voice recognition technologies to enhance accuracy.

Additionally, the Ministry of Digital Economy, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), NIMC, and telecom regulators are collaborating to merge existing identity databases to optimize available information before seeking further international funding.

Challenges and Delays in Conducting the Census

Nigeria’s last census was conducted in November 2006, and successive administrations have struggled to organize another due to financial constraints, political transitions, and security concerns.

In 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration postponed the census due to budgetary challenges and logistical hurdles. Under the President Tinubu administration, the exercise has faced similar difficulties, including uncertainty over timing, methodology, and capturing data on displaced persons.

Meanwhile, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has emphasized that census data is critical for national planning, resource distribution, and economic policies. He noted that the government is exploring alternative funding sources to support the census without overstretching national finances.

Despite the challenges, the NPC remains optimistic. Its chairman, Nasir Kwarra, assured that discussions with development partners were ongoing and that necessary preparations would be finalized once President Tinubu officially proclaims the new census date.

As the administration moves forward with its cost-reduction strategies, the final decision on the revised budget and implementation plan is expected in the coming weeks.