AS Nigerians await the outcome of 2006 Federal Population and Housing Census, the Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Samaila Makama, yesterday hinted at another possible delay in the release of the results earlier postponed to October from June.
He made the declaration in Abuja at a briefing on the conduct of the Post Enumeration Survey (PES) slated for between June 20 and 26.
The exercise, which will cover 35,000 Enumeration Areas (EAS), is the complete re-enumeration of a representative sample of the total geographical area and population, matching each individual and their characteristics in the PES with information from the main enumeration.
Makama said he could not be precise on the time of release of the results, but the earlier estimated time of release is the third quarter of 2006.
But he said: “The initial estimation was June but of course the reality on ground showed that this is not feasible, is not practicable and not realisable. We expect that estimated time of releasing the result will be September/October 2006 and better still, I prefer to say the fourth quarter or the last quarter of 2006.”
On the role the results will play in the 2007 election, Makama explained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would determine how it would guide the process.
The PES exercise, according to him, will gulp not less than N1 billion for the payment of 50, 000 functionaries drawn from the commission and those engaged for the actual census in March.
The European Union (EU) is shouldering N745 million of the total sum, being part of the N20 billion earlier donated for the exercise while the balance is expected from the Federal Government.
The NPC chief noted that while the 2006 Census may not be perfect, “we are hopeful that a solid foundation for successful censuses has been laid through our painstaking humble efforts and participation by the stakeholders”.
He said the PES would test the quality of the main exercise and check the level of coverage content error and canvass additional information on fertility and mortality.
Makama disclosed that functionaries would be paid on June 28 and 29 at 111 (three per state) paying centres by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which had contracted Standard Chartered Bank and Afribank for the payment.