The Nigerian Senate has promised to push for the conduct of a national population census in 2025.
Members of the upper legislative chambers made the resolution on Tuesday during a budget defense session with the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Nasir Isa Kwarra.
The Chairman of the Committee on National Identity Management and Population, Abdul Ningi, maintained that the federal lawmakers would not rest on their oars until a census is conducted before the end of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Ningi pointed out that the Senate was preparing to meet with president Tinubu to emphasize on the urgent need of conducting the census this year.
In the same vein, another lawmaker, Senator Olalere Oyewunmi underscored the importance of pressuring the President to prioritise the census.
Also, Senator Diket Plang expressed displeasure over the country’s reliance on estimated population figures, noting that it hampers effective planning.
On his part, chairman, National Population Commission, Isa Kwara noted that budget for the census is yet to be finalised, as they plan to integrate a biometric component into the process.
