President Bola Tinubu has rejected a N942 billion budget proposal by the National Population Commission (NPC) for the conduct of the national housing and population census, citing the need for cost-cutting measures. Sources close to the discussions revealed that Tinubu suggested deploying members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to reduce personnel costs during the exercise.
The President made the decision during a meeting with NPC officials, led by Chairman Nasir Kwarra, at the State House on Monday, February 24, 2025. Tinubu emphasized the need to align the census budget with the government’s current financial realities and promised to set up a committee to review the proposal.
“This stop-and-go activity on the census cannot work with me. So, we better have a definite path,” Tinubu was quoted as saying in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The President added, “I will set up a committee for you to look at the issues critically and do a source and application of resources. Where can we get help, and what can we lift before we embark on proclamation?”
Sources at the meeting revealed that Tinubu insisted on reducing the proposed N942 billion budget, describing it as excessive. “The main issue from that meeting was that the money they were proposing was quite much. It is around N942 billion. That is almost N1 trillion. And the President felt that it was too much,” one official said.
Another insider disclosed that Tinubu proposed leveraging NYSC members to cut costs. “He was even suggesting that they recruit youth corps members to make it cheaper,” the source revealed.
However, details about the composition and mandate of the proposed committee remain unclear. “We have heard nothing about that committee for now. It is still being put together as we speak. But the agencies concerned will be on it,” a third source explained.
During the meeting, Tinubu also emphasized the need for the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to be involved in the review process, highlighting the importance of integrating national identity data into the census exercise.
The President’s decision reflects his administration’s focus on fiscal responsibility and efficient resource management, even as it seeks to conduct a long-overdue national census.
