The National Population Commission (NPC) chairman, Alhaji Nasir Isa Kwarra, Thursday said the National Census scheduled to take place next year would cost N400bn.
He told the Senate Appropriation Committee that the amount is the total estimate cost of the census.
The committee however said submission from NPC will be added to the expected submission from INEC as part of report to be laid before the Senate for consideration for passage next week.
Plan by both chambers of the National Assembly to pass the N16.39trillion budget this week however suffered set back Wednesday as the financial requirements from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for 2023 general is yet to be presented and captured.
The commissioner who represented INEC chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu at the session, Alhaji Zuru Abdulrahman Abdul , informed the committee that the details being sought, cannot be given by him but only the INEC chairman.
“Mr chairman and members of this distinguished committee , we have listened to you and appreciate the concern on funding the 2023 General Elections as regards the need to capture some of the projected expenses in the 2022 budget.
“But such financial details can only be given by our chairman who is presently abroad and billed to return Sunday or Monday morning .
“So in the light of this , financial details requested for shall be made available Monday next week,” he said.
The chairman of the committee, Senator Jibrin Barau ( APC Kano North) , ruled for adjournment of the session to Monday next week .
In a brief media chat with journalists thereafter, Senator Barau said the latest development will not make passage of the 2022 budget this week possible.
“2023 General Elections and projected national head counts slated for next year are very important. That is the reason why we want to make provisions for them in the 2022 budget.
“As a result of the importance of the two, passage of 2022 budget will no longer be possible this week as earlier planned and clearly stated on our time table,” he said.
In the time table released in October , the report on the budget was supposed to have been laid by the Appropriation Committee on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 and passage fixed for Wednesday or Thursday this week.
In line with Senator Barau’s disclosure to journalists , the Senate at the end of its session, Wednesday, adjourned to Tuesday December 21, 2021 for another session, indicating that the budget may be laid, considered and passed that day, signaling a week behind schedule.
