FG Postpones 2023 Population Census

The Federal Government of Nigeria has postponed the 2023 population and housing census until May 2023.

The 2023 population and housing census was scheduled to commence towards the end of March and end in the first week of April.

Before now, there have been reports that the census will be postponed since election-related matters could clash with the nationwide event.

The speculation was put to rest on Wednesday, March 15, when the postponement of the head count was announced to reporters at the state house in Abuja after the Federal Executive Council’s meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

While announcing the development to reporters, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed said the Federal government had to change the date due to the rescheduling of the governorship and state house of assembly elections from March 11 to March 18.

He also revealed that the Council had allocated N2.8 billion to buy software for the National Population Commission (NPC) to conduct the census in May.

The minister said: “There was a memo presented by the National Population Commission, seeking some software to allow them to conduct the census in May this year. I believe because of the rescheduling of the elections, they cannot commence the census as scheduled.

“They sought Council’s approval for a contract to procure software for the census at the sum of N2.8 billion”.