By Our Correspondent
The Federal Government on Thursday said the Council of State has approved April 2023 for the conduct of a fresh nationwide census.
The government explained that the exercise would take place immediately after the country's general elections.
This is as the National Population Commission, NPC, the body saddled with the conduct of census has said that it will conduct Pilot Census in June after political parties primary elections.
The last census was held in August 2006.
In the meantime, the Council of State has rejected the proposal to grant pardon to former Bank PHB Managing Director, Francis Atuche who was sentenced for 120 years for stealing over N25 billion.
The council of State comprises former Presidents/heads of state, serving and former Chief Justices of Nigeria, the President of the Senate and Speaker of House of Representatives, all State governors, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the FCT Minister.
The meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, had Generals Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalam Abubakar as well as former President Goodluck Jonathan physically present.
While former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida attended virtually, President of Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives were ansent due to their engagements in the National Assembly.
Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami said that the Council of State approved 159 out of 162 applications presented for consideration for perogative of mercy for convicts and inmates in correctional centers.
He explained that one of the three persons rejected was sentenced for 120 years over stealing and had only served for five months in prison.
He said that the name of the convict was submitted as a result of his health challenge as he was said to be having life threatening ailment, but the Council rejected his inclusion for pardon because of the gravity of the offence and bearing in mind that he had only apent five months in prison.
Though he did not mention the name of the convict, a source privy to the meeting said it was Francis Atuche, the former MD of Bank PHB.
The AGF said that the next convict whose inclusion for presidential pardon was also rejected was convicted for offence of forgery and sentenced for 14 years in prison and has only spent one year and six months.
Malami further said that the third convict was sentenced for seven years for obtaining money by false pretence.
Also briefing journalists, the
Director General of Nigeria Population Commission, Nasir Isa-Kwarra said that the commission will deploy high technology in conduct of National Census.
He said through census data is generated for planning and that the data currently being used are mere projections and obsolete.
According to Isa-Kwarra, “It is going to be a digital census. We are hoping to give Nigerians digital accurate census come March and April, 2023. Council has noted and we have been given the approval to continue with our activities.
“It is very crucial because I have highlighted that the Census is a very important exercise for the nation. Because through census we generate the data that we use for policy making, for planning, for development, by the three tiers of government, and the private sector, they all need this.
“If you are a private sector, you're producing something, certainly, you need to know the population of an area if you want to create a market there.
“So census data is very crucial, very important. Because, the data we’ve been using are just projections, estimation. And are sort of obsolete, we need the actual census data to use for our planning.“
The Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, on his part disclosed that Buhari will meet security chiefs on Tuesday next week over worsening security situation following recommendations and comments by council of state.
The Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, on his part said the council approved the conferment of National Honours Award on 434 Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in the various field of endeavours.
Earlier, the meeting observed a minute silence in honor of former head of Interim government Ernest Shonekan who died on January 11 2022.
This is the fourth time the President will preside over the meeting, with the first being held on October 21, 2015 and the second on September 7, 2016 and the third was held virtually in August 2020.
The Council of State is an organ of the Federal Government saddled with the responsibility of advising the executive on policy making matters.
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