Open Alliance Demands Census Before 2027 Polls
A coalition of civil society organisations under the banner of Open Alliance has urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to immediately conduct a credible National Population and Housing Census ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that Nigeria’s prolonged failure to update its population data poses serious risks to governance and democratic representation.
In a statement released on Monday, the coalition expressed concern that nearly two decades after the last census in 2006, Nigeria continues to rely on outdated projections for public planning and resource allocation.
According to the group, Nigerians aged 18 and below have never experienced a national census, as the last exercise was conducted just eight years after the country’s return to democracy. Since then, Nigeria has held five general elections, witnessed multiple administrations, and recorded significant demographic changes without updated and verified population data.
The coalition recalled that in April 2025, the Presidency announced the inauguration of a committee to lay the groundwork for a long-overdue census. The committee, chaired by the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, was mandated to submit an interim report within three weeks. However, several months after the announcement, the group said no public report, timeline, or policy direction has emerged from the committee’s work.
Open Alliance described the silence as troubling and said it has further heightened concerns about the government’s commitment to resolving Nigeria’s demographic data deficit.
The group also raised alarm over what it described as inconsistent and inadequate budgetary provisions for the census. It noted that N770 million was allocated in the 2026 capital expenditure proposal for the National Population and Housing Census. When broken down across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the coalition said the figure translates to approximately N20.8 million per subnational government, raising questions about its adequacy and seriousness.
The statement further pointed out that a similar allocation of N693.3 million in 2024 failed to translate into concrete preparatory actions or measurable progress.
Joseph Amenaghawon, Acting Country Director of BudgIT, emphasised that a credible census goes beyond statistics. He stated that accurate demographic data is critical for fiscal transfers, constituency delineation, infrastructure planning, healthcare delivery, education policy, and social protection programmes.
“In the absence of reliable population data, public policy becomes guesswork, undermining efficiency, equity, and accountability in governance,” he said.
The coalition warned that as Nigeria prepares for its sixth general election since the last census, continued delay in conducting a new exercise could undermine development planning, social cohesion, and democratic representation.
It called on the House of Representatives and the Senate, currently reviewing the 2026 proposed budget, to prioritise and ensure the conduct of a credible National Population and Housing Census within the year, before electoral preparations gather full momentum.
The statement was jointly signed by BudgIT Foundation, Network for Empowerment and Development Initiative, Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development, Advance Strategic Policy Center, International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre, ITREALMS Media Group, Accountability Lab, Public and Private Development Centre, Niger State Open Alliance, and Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative.
The coalition concluded that “the time to count Nigerians properly and credibly is now.”
