Federal Govt Reaffirms Commitment To Transparent, Globally Acceptable Census

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a credible, transparent, and internationally acceptable national census, stressing that accuracy and due process will take precedence over speed.

The minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this in Abuja while receiving the chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr Aminu Yusuf, who led a management delegation on a courtesy visit on Tuesday.

According to the minister, credible data remains the foundation of national planning, noting that without accurate population figures, effective development planning becomes impossible.

He assured the NPC leadership that the Ministry and its agencies—including the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)—are fully prepared to mobilise Nigerians and drive nationwide advocacy once the President proclaims a census date.

The minister emphasised that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is determined to conduct a census that Nigerians and the international community can trust, adding that the federal government is prioritising proper process, legality, and credibility over haste.

He reiterated that a presidential proclamation remains the legal basis for the conduct of the census, assuring that all statutory and operational requirements are being carefully aligned to ensure the exercise meets global standards.

The minister urged the NPC to continue leveraging government-owned media platforms for sustained public enlightenment, while assuring that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation would fully discharge its mandate of advocating government programmes and policies in the national interest.

Earlier, the chairman of the National Population Commission, Dr Aminu Yusuf, commended the ministry for its consistent support and leadership in public mobilisation efforts ahead of the postponed census.

He said the Commission remains operationally ready, with systems, logistics, ICT infrastructure, and personnel continually refined to guarantee efficiency, transparency, and credibility once a new census date is announced.

Dr Yusuf also sought sustained access to government media platforms to deepen public understanding of census participation, civil registration, and vital statistics, describing public trust as central to the success of population management in Nigeria.