The National Council of State has approved that the national population census should be held April 2023 after the general elections.
The disclosure was made by the Director-General of National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa-Kwarra, while speaking to State House Correspondents after a meeting of the Council of State presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.
He noted that bthe NPC would be conducting a pilot census from June 2022 after political parties must have concluded their pre-general elections activities.
He further revealed that tl the commission will deploy high technology for the exercise.
According to him, data is generated for planning, noting that the data currently being used are mere projections and obsolete.
Isa-Kwarra said: “It is very crucial because I have highlighted that the census is a very important exercise for the nation.
“Because through census we generate the data that we use for policy making, for planning, for development, by the three tiers of government, and the private sector, they all need this.
“If you are a private sector, you’re producing something, certainly, you need to know the population of an area if you want to create a market there.
“So census data is very crucial, very important. Because, the data we’ve been using are just projections, estimation. And are sort of obsolete, we need the actual census data to use for our planning.“
Jigawa Governor Abubakar Badaru disclosed that Buhari will meet security chiefs next Tuesday over worsening security situation following recommendations and comments by the Council of State.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the Council of State approved 159 out of 162 applications presented for consideration for perogative of mercy for convicts and inmates in correctional centres.
The Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, said the council approved the conferment of National Honours Award on 434 Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in the various field of endeavours.
