Senator Sulaiman Hunkuyi, Senate Committee Chairman, on National Identity Card and National Population has tasked the leadership of the National Population Commission, NPC, to make necessary preparations ahead of the trial census in 2017 and the actual census in 2018.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday during the committee’s visit to the National Secretariat of NPC to ascertain the level of preparedness of the commission ahead of the census scheduled for 2018, Hunkuyi challenged the commission to do everything within its constitutional power to conduct the census in 2018 as proposed.
He, however, lamented the condition of the NPC permanent National secretariat which is still under construction.
The Chairman of the NPC, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, had led the Senators to the permanent site of NPC as part of the oversight function of the Senate committee.
Hunkuyi, however, expressed worry that despite the 100% payment to contractors handling the project, the building was yet to reach 70% completion after 10 years it was awarded.
Though, NPC boss said the company handling the project was seeking upward review of the contract, Hunkuyi said the contractors would be invited by its Committee to explain why it failed to complete the project after 100% payment of contract sum.
Earlier, in an open remark, Duruiheoma said the 2018 population census would cost the Federal government N222 billion.
He said the trial census will come up in first quarter of 2017, while the actual census will come up in 2018.
Hunkuyi last week moved a motion calling on Mr President to make a proclamation for the 2018 Census.
Similarly, he expressed worry over the production and distribution of National Identity cards by the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC.
During the oversight visit to the National headquarters of the agency and the tour of its facility, he called on the management of NIMC to come up with strategies that will enhance its performance.
Aliyu Aziz, Director General of NIMC led the lawmakers to the operational site of the commission.
The lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with NIMC over the number of identity cards being produced and distributed, when compared with the amount of money being spent on the exercise.
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