The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly criticised the newly constituted national census committee set up by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging that it is dominated by appointees from only two regions — the South West and the North West — and lacks fair representation of other major ethnic groups in Nigeria, particularly the South East and South South regions.
In a statement issued to the media, the pro-democracy group described the committee as “sectional and discriminatory,” warning that any census conducted under such a setup will lack credibility and integrity. HURIWA further called on civil society groups in the South of Nigeria to prepare to boycott the exercise if the committee is not reconstituted to include representatives from all geopolitical zones.
“Whatever outcome is reached by this highly sectional and limited representation regarding the conduct of any future census in Nigeria would be bereft of credibility and integrity,” HURIWA said. “The rest of the Nigerian population, whose technocrats were alienated from this national committee, are best advised to boycott the census.”
The rights group pointed to Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which prohibits discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, or place of origin, describing the committee’s composition as a violation of this constitutional right.
“This is offensive to section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution which absolutely prohibits discriminatory practices and policies by any government in Nigeria,” HURIWA stated.
The eight-member census committee was recently inaugurated by President Tinubu in absentia. The President was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the State House in Abuja on April 12, 2025. According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the committee was set up to prepare and submit a report within three weeks on the forthcoming national population and housing census.
President Tinubu stressed the importance of a credible and technology-driven census to aid in national planning, healthcare delivery, education, security, and economic development.
“You cannot budget if you do not know how many of us there are,” the President said in his message. “The enumeration has to be technology-driven with biometrics and digitalisation.”
The committee is chaired by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu. Other members include:
– The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
– The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
– The Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)
– The Principal Secretary to the President
– The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations
– The Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris
– Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Kwarra (who also serves as the committee’s secretary)
The committee has been tasked with mobilising both local and international resources to fund the national census and ensure that the process meets global standards.
HURIWA, however, says the composition of the committee does not reflect Nigeria’s diversity and undermines national unity.
“This census committee is made up almost entirely of Yorubas and Hausa/Fulanis. Where are the Igbos? Where are the Niger Deltans? This is unacceptable in a country as ethnically diverse as Nigeria,” HURIWA’s statement said.
The group argues that allowing only a select few regions to dominate the decision-making process for a national exercise like a census could lead to flawed data, which in turn would affect resource allocation and national development.
According to HURIWA, the implications of the committee’s composition are not only political but economic. The group warns that a skewed census could affect future development plans, revenue sharing, representation in government, and the distribution of federal projects.
“Census data is critical in determining everything from constituency boundaries to school and hospital distribution. A biased process leads to biased outcomes,” the group warned.
In response to the backlash, HURIWA has called on President Tinubu to immediately reconstitute the committee to include members from all six geopolitical zones.
Failure to do so, the group warned, would lead to a campaign for mass boycott of the census, particularly in Southern Nigeria.
“We urge Mr. President to do the right thing and reconstitute the committee. If not, we will call on all civil rights groups in the South to mobilise Nigerians to boycott this census,” HURIWA said.
The national census is a critical activity in Nigeria, determining key aspects of national life, from political representation to budget allocations. Nigeria has not conducted a census since 2006, and several attempts to hold a new one has been postponed due to funding challenges, insecurity, and political concerns.
Census data helps determine how federal resources are shared among the states and local governments, how constituencies are drawn, and how infrastructure projects are planned and distributed.
With Nigeria’s population estimated to have grown from about 140 million in 2006 to over 220 million today, experts say an accurate and credible census is urgently needed.
However, past censuses in Nigeria have been marred by controversy, with accusations of inflated figures, regional bias, and manipulation. Analysts fear that if the process is not seen as transparent and inclusive, it could further polarise the country.
For now, the committee has begun its work, with a deadline to submit its interim report in three weeks. The National Population Commission has also assured Nigerians that it is committed to delivering a credible, technology-driven enumeration.
But whether the current controversy will derail the process remains to be seen. As tensions rise, many Nigerians are watching closely to see how the Tinubu administration responds to growing calls for inclusion and fairness in one of the country’s most sensitive national exercises.
