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| The Place of Population Census and National Planning on Nigeria's National Development
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Nduba, Onyebuchi Johnpaul, Ngini, Ignatius Ifesinachi , Obi, Chinenye Blessing , Ikedi, Amaechina, Ezeamu, Emmanuel Okwuchukwu
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Abstract:
- The raison d'etre of every government is to, through its actions and inactions (public policy), drive the state from a less favourable position to a more favourable state. Governments can only achieve this feat with a well conceived, well structured and robust plan. The plan of government must not be haphazard and must be all encompassing. Population census irrefutably is a cardinal cum fundamental issue of concern in Nigeria. This is consequent on the fact that population, in terms of its size and composition, has comprehensive significance for change development and the quality of life in society. There has been for some time an aspiration for an authentic census on which to base planning in Nigeria though it has not been feasible to actualize this goal. Majority of the glitches encountered in past exercises have been credited to some organizational flaws. From the first census that was conducted in Nigeria, census exercises have generated religious, political, ethnic and geo-political disputes and distrust which negatively influence cum alter nation building as well as sustainable development in the country. It is against this backdrop that this paper analysed population census and national planning in Nigeria using content analysis on data sourced from secondary sources of data generation. The paper shows that population census is a vital aspect of any nation, be developed or developing and its information is very critical for all planning decisions in any state. Thus, this paper recommends that government should have a robust rolling plan that will help in determining accurate population and demography of the country. Furthermore, it is recommended that the National Population Commission (NPC) should rise to the occasion by ensuring that census data in Nigeria is not only accurate but a credible tool in national transformation and development.
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