The National Population Commission (NPC) has announced that there will be no public holiday during the upcoming census, which is scheduled to take place from May 3 to May 7, 2023. The commission emphasized that everyone residing in the country, including foreigners, will be counted and urged all individuals to make themselves available for the exercise. This census will be the first since the 2006 count, and the NPC has pledged that it will be conducted digitally.
In an interview on Friday, NPC spokesperson Isiaka Yahaya explained that a public holiday will not be observed because people tend to travel during holidays, which could complicate the enumeration. He noted that there might be movement restrictions based on past experiences, but a definitive decision will be issued by the government. Yahaya clarified that all persons present in Nigeria during the census period will be counted, regardless of citizenship. “If you look at the definition of a census, it is the enumeration of all persons. It does not say only citizens,” he said. A specific questionnaire item will ask respondents whether they are foreigners and, if so, their country of origin; this information will be incorporated into the overall data set.
When asked whether individuals who refuse to participate would face sanctions, Yahaya dismissed the rumor, stating that the NPC has no authority or capacity to imprison anyone. He emphasized that the commission has simply encouraged all Nigerians to cooperate because the census serves the national interest.
NPC Director for Plateau State, Pam Dame, assured the public that the census will be credible and reliable. Speaking at the Plateau Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Jos, Dame highlighted the importance of the exercise for planning and national development and said the commission will deploy technology to minimize errors and prevent manipulation. “The forthcoming census will be unique because we have made arrangements for improvement over previous ones. It will be very difficult for anyone to manipulate this census,” he asserted.
State NUJ chairman Paul Jatau called on the commission to provide thorough training for its officials to avoid the challenges experienced during previous general elections.
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