The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the N200 billion spent on the suspended 2023 Population and Housing Census to determine how the huge sum was utilised and managed.
This resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Clement Akanni from Osun at plenary yesterday.
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Moving the motion, Akanni noted that the immediate-past administration of former President, Muhammadu Buhari, planned to conduct a census in 2022, but the programme was later postponed to 2023.
He recalled that earlier in March 2023, the then minister of state for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, said a total of N869 billion would be required for the exercise.
“Also recall that the National Population Commission (NPC) says it has spent about N200 billion to prepare for the 2023 population and housing census.
“Disturbed that the exercise was, however, suspended indefinitely by former President Muhammadu Buhari a few days before leaving office.
“Concerned that the need to provide the nation with accurate and reliable demographic data for policy formulation and planning for sustainable development cannot be overemphasised,” he stated.