Court Orders NPC to Disclose Census Spending Breakdown

A Federal High Court in Abuja has instructed the National Population Commission (NPC) to disclose expenditure details pertaining to the suspended 2023 Population Census within a seven-day period.

Originally slated for 2022, the census was rescheduled for 2023 but was later suspended indefinitely by former President Muhammadu Buhari shortly before leaving office. The responsibility to announce new dates for the headcount was deferred to President Bola Tinubu. The census is now scheduled for November 2024.

In June 2023, the NPC disclosed that it had expended a total of N200 billion on preparations for the postponed census. Following the NPC’s refusal to provide expenditure details in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by Abuja-based lawyer Opatola Victor, Victor initiated legal action against the commission.

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In the suit identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/ 503/2023, Victor argued that the NPC’s refusal to disclose spending records violated his rights under Section 4 of the FOI Act 2012. He sought an order of mandamus compelling the commission to provide the requested records.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in delivering judgment, dismissed the NPC’s claims of bureaucratic challenges and the absence of the executive chairman as reasons for withholding the records. The judge also rejected the NPC’s assertion that certain information was classified, noting that no secrecy was involved regarding the census.

Ekwo deemed the NPC’s refusal to release the requested information as wrongful, illegal, and unconstitutional. Consequently, he ordered the NPC to furnish Victor with comprehensive details concerning the Quality Test Assurance Report on the devices and technology intended for the census.

However, the judge declined to award the requested N500,000 compensation to Victor as stated in the lawsuit.