The federal government has shifted the population and housing census earlier scheduled for March 29 to May.
Disclosing the new development on Wednesday at the end of the federal executive council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed told State House correspondents that the decision was caused by the rescheduling of the governorship and state house of assemblies elections to March 18.
The Minister of Information and Culture also noted that the FEC approved the sum of N2.8 billion for the National Population Commission (NPC) to procure software to be used for the organisation of the census.
“There was a memo presented by the National Population Commission, seeking some software to allow them to conduct the census in May this year. I believe because of the rescheduling of the elections, they cannot commence the census as scheduled,” the minister said.
“They sought Council’s approval for a contract to procure software for the census at the sum of N2.8 billion”, added Lai Mohammed.
