The House of Representatives on Monday expressed concern over the readiness of the National Population Commission to conduct a population and housing census across the country.
According to The PUNCH, the lawmakers who spoke during the review of the 2024 budget performance expressed misgivings at the distortions in the documents on the 2024 budget performance submitted to the Committee by its Chairman, Mr Jimi Odimayo.
As contained in the document titled, “2023 census strategy and implementation plan,” presented to the Committee, the sum of ₦841,97 billion was budgeted for the 2023 population and housing census to take care of pre-enumeration, actual enumeration and the post enumeration activities.
According to the Commission’s 2024 Appropriation of ₦12.77 billion, the sum of ₦1.13 billion was allocated for capital expenditure, ₦818,93 billion for overhead 8,272 while ₦10.82 billion was allocated for personnel cost.
While giving details on the performance of capital expenditure, the chairman of the Commission, Nasiru Kwara disclosed that the sum of ₦1.1 billion was released and fully utilised (representing 97.38 per cent released to date), leaving the balance of ₦29.54 million.
Things took a new turn when Lagos lawmaker, Okey Onuakalusi, noted that the supplementary budget approved for the NPC in 2024 was still being investigated, which prompted the Committee’s visit to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He also faulted the NPC Chairman for allegedly misleading the Committee by presenting a 97.38 per cent budget performance on Capital Expenditure for the anticipatory release.
Onuakalusi said: “What you told us here is anticipatory funds. So if they’re anticipatory funds based on budget performance, it means that they are subject to query because you’re claiming 97.38 per cent.
“I know from the fact that many of the percentages here are anticipatory funds. Now, if it’s anticipatory funds, how are we sure that the budget performance given to us is correct? Because they don’t act on anticipatory funds and expect results. That’s why you must establish what percentage of the money you have gotten. Is it 40 per cent or 60 per cent?”
