Naira Scarcity: Doubts Over 2023 Census As FG Earmarks N400bn

Over N400 billion has been set aside by the federal government for the conduct of the 2023 Census. This was disclosed by the National Population Commission, NPC, on Thursday.

In spite of the provision, not a few Nigerians have expressed doubts on the successful conduct of the Census due to the Naira swap policy of the Central bank of Nigeria, CBN which has caused so much confusion in the country.

Many Nigerians have been stranded for days due to the policy, as they could not access cash from commercial banks. The cash crisis will also affect government programmes including the Census, expected to take place between March 29 and April 2 this year, close watchers of the nation’s politics say.

The NPC said out of the amount earmarked by the Buhari administration over N100 billion has already by the commission on logistic ahead the Census expected to hold later this year.

NPC Public Affairs Department Head in Plateau, Jick Lawrence, said this while presenting a paper at a one-day capacity building workshop for journalists on effective reporting of census in Jos, Plateau state yesterday.

Lawrence said, “Over N400 billion has been earmarked to be expended on the 2023 census.

“About N100 billion has so far been expended on preparations ahead of the exercise, census is a very big and capital intensive exercise.”

He stated that census had far-reaching socio-economic gains, adding that some of the funds would go into the empowerment of about 1.5 million Nigerians.

Those empowered, he explained, would be paid monies ranging from N100,000 to 150,000 per person.

He also added that 56,000 vehicles would be hired to enhance movement of personnel and materials, and about 800,000 Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) would be procured.

Lawrence said the reflation of the economy, through the circulation of cash transferred into the hands of functionaries and clients, who supply infrastructure and services, would add value to the economy.

He added that census was critical to development, and, therefore, deserved critical attention.

Lawrence said more items would be added to the questionnaires issued to households, which included ICT literacy, fertility and child survival, as well as deaths in the household in the last 12 months.

Others, he said, were difficulties in performing activities, sanitation, climate change, among others.

Meanwhile, not a few public analysts insist that the census will run into problems so long the cash crisis persists.

“How are you going to conduct a population census when there is no cash in circulation? How are you going to pay for logistics and other preparations without paying some people cash? We are not yet ready for internet banking, the infrastructure is not just there,” one of them said on Tuesday.