The 2016 national population census will cost N273bn, with N10bn needed urgently to ensure the fidelity of the process. Chairman, National Population Commission, NPC, Eze Duru Iheoma, SAN, who led other National Commissioners to the Presidential Villa yesterday, stated this in his operational briefing to President Muhammadu Buhari. Curiously, only about N4bn is allocated for the purpose in the 2015 budget.

Consequently, as part of measures to ensure cost-effective governance, President Buhari has charged government agencies to harmonise collection and usage of biometric data in the country.

The president wondered why each agency would gather its own biometric data, when such data could easily be shared.

He said: “It will be more cost effective if you work together. It helps even the credibility of the election process, as Nigerians of voting age can be identified easily.”

Several government organisations that currently collect biometric data include the National Population Commission, NPC, National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, among others.

President Buhari added that all the agencies should work collaboratively, instead of going in different directions, stressing that adequate data was necessary for planning and development in any country.

Read More: nationalmirroronline