Census Should Not Be Priority Of Federal Government Now – Col Abubakar Umar

By Ayodele Oni

Radical former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Col Abubakar Umar (rtd) has reacted to the proposed national census slated for next year saying in the midst of mounting insecurities, census should not be a priority.

The National Council of States at its just concluded meeting among others approved conduct of another population census for next year.

According to the National Population Commission, (NPC) the exercise will come up immediately after the general elections slated for February and March next year.

The Commission has, also, slated the conduct of a mock census for later this year after political parties might have concluded their primaries.

Col Umar, Chairman Movement for Unity and Progress said in a statement on Friday that “The decision of the FGN to seek and gotten the approval of the  National Council of State to conduct National census in April 2023 must have come as a great shock to most well meaning Nigerians.

“A country that is facing existential challenges such as unprecedented level of insecurity, collapsing economy cannot have as one of its priorities the conduct of a National census.

“We therefore urge the Buhari administration to suspend what will amount to misadventure and waste of scarce national resources.

“This Administration should focus all its attention on securing the nation and conducting the 2023elections.

“A National census at this point is certainly not a priority assuming that its conduct is possible.”