The House of Representatives has decided to investigate the N200 billion that was spent on the suspended 2023 population and housing census.
This decision was made during a plenary session on Thursday after a motion was introduced by Clement Akanni, a lawmaker from Osun State.
In April 2023, the government under former President Muhammadu Buhari postponed the 2023 national census indefinitely.
The census was originally planned to take place nationwide between May 3 and 5. The National Population Commission had requested N200 billion for the preparation of the census.
Isiaka Yahaya, the NPC spokesperson, justified the postponement by stating that the census was rescheduled so that the next administration could actively participate in it.
Akanni, in his motion, emphasized the importance of the census in providing accurate demographic data for policy-making and sustainable development planning in the nation.
The motion was approved through a voice vote led by Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker presiding over the plenary.
As a result, the house instructed the population committee to look into the National Population Commission’s use of N200 billion for a census that never took place.
