President Bola Tinubu has rejected the National Population Commission's (NPC) proposed ₦942 billion budget for the upcoming national housing and population census, deeming it excessively high. In a meeting held on February 24, 2025, with NPC officials led by Chairman Nasir Kwarra, President Tinubu emphasized the need for cost-cutting measures and suggested utilizing members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to reduce personnel expenses.
To ensure the census aligns with the government's financial realities, President Tinubu announced plans to establish a committee tasked with critically examining the proposed budget, identifying potential funding sources, and determining feasible adjustments before proceeding. He underscored the importance of accurate census data for effective national planning in areas such as employment, agriculture, and resource distribution, stating, "We must ascertain who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data."
This decision reflects the administration's commitment to fiscal responsibility while striving to obtain reliable demographic data essential for Nigeria's development.