•••BUHARI MEETS SECURITY CHIEFS ON TUESDAY
The Federal Government is making arrangement to conduct the national population census in April, 2023 after the general election in February of the same year.
The Director General of the Nigeria Population Commission, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, spoke to journalists after the Council of State meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.
Isah-Kwarra said that the next population census would be conducted with high technology equipment.
Isa-Kwarra said: “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 in the 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.“
Speaking also, the Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru, hinted that President Buhari would meet with security chiefs on Tuesday over the worsening security situation in the country.
Badaru said that the meeting was scheduled as a response to the recommendations and comments by the Council.
The Council of State also approved 159 out of 162 applications for consideration for prerogative of mercy for convicts.
Those who benefitted from the prerogative of mercy include a convict sentenced to 14 years and has served a year and six months, a third person sentenced for seven years for obtaining money by false pretense.
The Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, who also spoke to journalists said that the Council approved the conferment of National Honours Award on 434 Nigerians who have been found to have distinguished themselves in the various field of endeavors.
The Council comprises the President, Vice President, past presidents, Senate President, Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria, (serving and past), the Attorney General of the Federation, all State Governors and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory.
