NEED FOR POPULATION CENSUS

 NEED FOR POPULATION CENSUS

Population is the total aggregate of persons inhabiting a country, district or area. According to the United Nations, (2006) a census is the total process of collectively compiling, and publishing demographics, economic and social data partaining, at the specified time or times, to all persons in a country or delineated territory. 

The UN further listed such data to include information on age, sex, family, size, marital status, economic activity and location, labour force, occupation, employment, level of education and household compositions.

Census has been regarded as one of the best sources of demographic information in Nigeria, and the importance of demographic information in socio-economic planning cannot be over-emphasized. In education planning, for instance knowing the number of people of school age is very crucial in knowing the classrooms to be built and the number of teachers needed.

This illustration shows how important population census can be in development planning.However, population census in Nigeria overtime has been influenced by three (3) major factors which are; fertility (birth), mortality (death), and migration (internal and external). Population census is very crucial in providing the government with detailed and comprehensive information on the size of population and the standard of living of people in the country through per capita income.

 It is also relevant in determining appropriate allocation of resources, provision of educational facilities, forecasting major economic needs, determining the number of unemployed youth, revealing the level of manpower, determining the number of imigrants and emigrants, and most importantly formulations of economic policies. 

Hence, data collected from population census are crucial for effective development planning and administration to enhance the welfare of the people.Population census also, helps the government to determine the changes in the population of the country overtime, such as birth rate, death rate, as well as imigrants and emigrants. Data from population census will help determine the appropriate communication strategy to be put in place to mitigate emigration and sustaining the interest of the people in the country. Especially in a case of forced migration where citizens are not in control of their movement, that is leaving the country out of their own free will.

There might be the need to deploy people's cultural belief, why they are leaving the country and communication strategy to reduce the tension of people migrating from where they are.Despite the various importance of conducting a population census, Nigeria which is the second most populous continent after Asia had her last census exercise carried out in 2006. Knowing fully well that development planning is an exercise in futility if the total number of people living in the country is unknown. Ideally, census should be done every 10 years, since the 1911 census was taken, also 1921, 1951/ 1953, 1963, another census that was supposed to hold in 2001 was postponed due to inadequate fund to 2006. And ever since 2006, no other population census was conducted in Nigeria which has been a major factor rendering development planning meaningless and fruitless.

However, the lack of census in Nigeria has affected the nation policy's objective that states "regular data collection, monitoring and evaluation". Hence, there is urgent need for population census in Nigeria.

Moreso, one of the implication of non-census in Nigeria is misallocation of funds or resources, since population figures are the basis for distributing resources to sub-national government. Hence, there is urgent need for population census so as to ensure appropriate or even allocation and distribution of funds and resources among various groups in the country.

Rapid population growth in the country is a major reason the population policy as not been effective. Hence, more revenue should be allocated for an urgent & reliable conduct of population census in Nigeria.Consequently, population census is urgently needed in Nigeria so as to determine what group in the country is overpopulated in order to employ or channel development strategy in those area to help mitigate the rapid development growth in Nigeria, such as the Northern part of Nigeria where early marriage is highly practiced.

Government intervention here becomes paramount as there is need to mobilize the people, enlighten them on the effect of overpopulation on the country, and promote the use of birth control contraceptives and family planning as a way of reducing high birth rate. However, this should be carried out in a way that won't be offensive to the people's cultural norms and values for effective development exercise.

Data from population census is heart to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS which is an agency responsible for accessing, collecting and accounting for tax and other revenue accruing to the Federal Government of Nigeria. This will help them in determining those "who" are eligible for taxation, since it is a civic responsibility. 

Hence, there is need for urgent population census exercise in the country in knowing those who are eligible to pay tax and serve as a crucial means of generating more revenue in Nigeria.In conclusion, to ensure a more reliable, accurate, and comprehensive census in Nigeria, there is need for provision of adequate and sufficient funds and resources by the government.

Also, adequate time should be allocated for planning and execution of the census and organized system should be put in place for training of census officials and politicization of the whole exercise to avoid any misconduct from it's officials.