A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the National Population Commission (NPC) to disclose the expenditure details related to the suspended 2023 Population Census within seven days. Originally scheduled for 2022, the census was later postponed to 2023 and subsequently suspended indefinitely by former President Muhammadu Buhari before leaving office.
The NPC had earlier claimed to have spent N200 billion on preparations for the census. Following the NPC’s refusal to disclose spending details, a lawyer, Opatola Victor, filed a suit under the Freedom of Information Act.
The court, in its judgment, dismissed the NPC’s claims and ordered the commission to provide comprehensive information about the Quality Test Assurance Report on the devices and technology for the postponed census. However, the requested compensation of N500,000 for the breach of rights was not granted.