N327bn Donation From the Public Needed to Make the 2023 Census a Success - FG

In order to raise money for the next population and housing census in 2023, Clem Agba, the Federal Government's Minister of State for Budget and National Planning has announced that a basket fund will be set up to accept donations from the public.

This information was shared on Monday, March 6th, during a high-level partner engagement in Abuja, where he was advocating for funding for the 2023 census. Agba stated that N869 billion was required for the census and that the government has pledged N291 billion, leaving N327.2 billion to be funded by individuals.

He stated, “The entire amount required for the census is N869bn ($1.88bn): census requirement - N626bn ($1.36bn), which is almost $6 per capita (only barely above the threshold up to $5 per capita); Post-Census (up to 2025) is N243bn ($527m). Till now, the government has pledged N291.5bn ($632m), which accounts for 46% of the overall census budget. To finish the census, we need an additional (immediate) payment of N327.2bn ($709.9m).’’

The Minister also revealed, the census was supposed to be done last year but was pushed back to March 2023, and now it's being suggested that it be done in May.

This administration has acknowledged its dedication to carrying out the census in 2018–19, but the 2020 Covid-19 lock-down made the plans futile. The new target date for the census is May of that year (2023), despite previous plans to move it to March of the same year. 

He also said that the United Nations Population Fund, which is helping the National Population Commission in other ways such as giving technical and financial assistance, will be in charge of the basket fund.

The minister solicited monetary donations and offers to purchase census supplies from the business sector.

Ms. Ulla Mueller, UNFPA's Resident Representative, emphasized the need of conducting a census to get an accurate count of the population instead of relying on estimates.