By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Chairman Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, Senator Abdul Ningi, has assured Nigerians that the 2024 national census will be held as scheduled.
The Senator stated this during the screening of 17 out of the 19 commissioner nominees for the National Population Commission (NPC) yesterday in Abuja.
Those screened include Sa’adatu Dogon Bauchi, (Kaduna State), Emmanuel Eke (Abia); Dr Clifford Zirra (Adamawa); Mr Chidi Ezeoke (Anambra); Isa Buratai (Borno); Bishop Alex Ukam (Cross River); Blessyn Brume-Ataguba (Delta); and Dr Jeremiah Nwankwegu (Ebonyi).
Others were Dr Tony Aiyejina (Edo); Mr Ejike Ezeh (Enugu); Mr Abubakar Damburam (Gombe); Prof. Uba Nnabue (Imo); Dr Aminu Tsanyawa (Kano); Yori Afolabi (Kogi); Mary Afan (Plateau); Mr Saany Sale (Taraba) and Mr Ogiri Henry, Rivers.State.
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Two nominees, Olakunle Sobukola (Ogun State), and Temitayo Oluwatuyi (Ondo) were absent from the screening.
The Chairman of the committee said most of the nominees were coming for the second time.
He said, “It is a renomination and we have perused through their credentials presented in the first instance, compared to the ones they have just presented.”
Ningi said that conducting the exercise was all about political will by the government and noted that Nigeria had not conducted a population census in the last 11 years.
He said, “We are almost 11 years without taking the United Nations resolution on population which comes almost every seven years.
“I’m sure with the political will, this is possible, it’s doable, the commission is ready, the personnel are ready.
“All we need to do is the announcement by the President that the population census is coming on a date and once he says it, the international observers will now come in with their support.
“Without the President’s declaration, no one will send a kobo to Nigeria to support population census.
“Seventy-five per cent of the logistics in terms of machines, in terms of training of the personnel have been completed.
“All we need to do is for the President to have the political will, and commitment to say the census is taking place and we cannot postpone it.”
Ningi further said that population census was the basic crux of human development adding that without census you can’t plan anything.
“That’s why it’s difficult now to ascertain the exact population. Even pro-rata, how many are Nigerians because of lack of political will.”
Ningi said that since the population issue was on the front burner, all efforts were underway to ensure its take-off.
“The nominees should realise the importance of the assignment before them. The last time we had a national census was more than a decade ago.
“No nation improves nor develops without knowing its number and therefore, this is a unique assignment that the nominees would face in due course.
“This is because we are going to face the national census. You have been selected because of your pedigree, your experience, and your exposure to the system.
“It is very imperative while you are on that duty, we must see ourselves as Nigerians. There is no basis for any competition whether there are more Hausa people than Igbo people or Yoruba than Tivs.
“That is not the essence of population count. The essence is to be able to develop a mechanism where we lay a developmental plan that will meet the aspiration of our people.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) Mr Nasir Kwarra said, “We have been waiting for the screening a long time ago. Thank God we are here today.
“Out of the 19 nominees that were sent, two will not be here. Because the commissioner representing Ondo has been appointed Secretary to the State Government, Ondo.
“The commissioner representing Ogun, he contested the House of Assembly election. Initially, he wasn’t declared a winner. The court gave him the seat. So he is not going to be sworn in.”
In her presentation, the nominee for Kaduna State, Dogon Bauchi, appreciated President Bola Tinubu in finding the women among the nominees worthy to serve as commissioners in the NPC.
“We women were given a soft landing. We appreciate the President on the trust. As women, we will give our best. Women are trying, we will continue to do our best. This census will be done well. The machinery to be used will bring the best. We will not fail Nigerians,” she said.
