Pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?s committee on national census whose representations are basically limited to government officials from the South West and North West of Nigeria thereby excluding a large chunk of Nigerians including the Igbos and the Niger Delta population in the South/South of Nigeria.

"HURIWA is simply saying that whatever outcome is reached by this highly sectional and limited representatives of just few sections of Nigeria regarding the conduct of any future census in Nigeria would be bereft of credibility and integrity and the rest of the Nigerian population whose technocrat were alienated from this national committee are best advised to boycott the census and let the National Census Commission count only Yorubas and Hausa/Fulani since ab initio the set up is twisted and choreographed to represent the selfish and sectional interests of only Yorubas and Muslim North of Nigeria."

HURIWA condemned the Constitution of a discriminatory committee for the Census as offensive to section 42(1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which absolutely prohibits discriminatory practice and policies by government in Nigeria or any part thereof.

Chapter 4. Section 42. Right to freedom from discrimination

A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:-

be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or

be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.

No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth.

HURIWA recalled that in absentia, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had reportedly inaugurated a committee on the forthcoming national population and housing census.

The committee is expected to submit an interim report within three weeks.

This was contained in a statement by Tinubu?s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday.

The President, represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the event held at the State House in Abuja, said the census is crucial for national development, accurate planning, and effective decision-making in healthcare, education, security, and economic planning.

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He also stressed the pivotal role of a technology-driven process in ensuring credible and verifiable results and the need for collaboration among all relevant agencies and stakeholders.

Speaking on the critical financing factor in the exercise, he urged the committee members to look at domestic and even international resources.

?Work with all relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. This ministry has to take charge of this because you cannot budget if you do not know how many of us there are.

?We expect you will touch on the technology area because the census must be technology-driven. Things have changed since the last time that we conducted this exercise. The enumeration has to be technology-driven with biometrics and digitalisation,? he said.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, who chairs the Presidential Committee on Population and Housing Census, assured the President that the committee will deliver its report within the three-week deadline.

Bagudu recalled Tinubu?s advice to ministers during their retreat in 2003, urging them to think creatively and work with the resources available, even under harsh economic conditions.

He noted that despite global economic challenges, Nigeria is making steady progress under President Tinubu?s leadership, citing improved foreign exchange stability and a positive growth trajectory.

He said the committee will recommend practical solutions, including strategies for mobilising domestic and international resources to fund the census.

On his part, the Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris, a committee member, emphasised that accurate data is critical for planning across all sectors and that a credible census is the foundation for such data.

The National Population Commission Chairman, Nasir Kwarra, who will also serve as the committee Secretary, said the commission has already begun preparations for the national population and housing census in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and other relevant stakeholders.

Kwarra stated that the focus has been on identifying key requirements and laying the groundwork necessary for the President to make an informed decision on the actual conduct of the census.

He assured Nigerians that the National Population Commission remains committed to ensuring a credible, technology-driven enumeration that will support effective national planning and development.

The eight-member committee includes the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission, the Principal Secretary to the President, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations.

The Rights group in a media statement asked the President to reconstitute a properly and broadbased committee that has representatives from a broad spectrum of Nigerians or else civil rights advocacy groups in the South of Nigeria will wage campaigns to call for the boycott of the census.

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