Civic tech platform Tracka has raised alarm over the disbursement of N129.5 billion for Nigeria’s suspended 2023 population census without any published results, accusing the National Population Commission (NPC) of failing to account for the funds and breaching the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
BudgIT Foundation disclosed the findings in a statement on Thursday signed by its Head of Communications, Misturah Owolabi, describing the situation as a “governance crisis” with far-reaching consequences for planning and public service delivery.
Nigeria last conducted a credible population census in 2006, and nearly two decades later, the country still lacks updated demographic data.
Tracka stated that its review of public expenditure records revealed that billions were paid to contractors between February 2022 and December 2023 for census-related activities, despite the exercise being halted without producing any enumeration results.
According to the organisation, N118.38 billion was spent on Personal Digital Assistants and accessories, N2.47 billion on Hilux vehicles, N499.8 million on power banks, and N106.19 million on an e-recruitment portal, among other items.
“These figures raise questions that the National Population Commission has, to date, refused to answer,” it stated.
Tracka said it formally wrote to the NPC on February 19, 2026, invoking the FOI Act and requesting details of total disbursements, beneficiaries, project deliverables, and the current status of the census.
It said the letter, addressed to NPC Chairman, Hon. (Dr.) Aminu Yusuf, was acknowledged on March 2.
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However, as of March 26, the organisation said the Commission had neither responded nor indicated that a reply was forthcoming.
“This silence is not an administrative delay, Under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, a public institution is required to respond within seven days.
“The National Population Commission is now in clear violation of Nigerian law,” it added.
Highlighting the broader implications, Tracka warned that the absence of credible population data continues to undermine planning across key sectors, including education, healthcare, social protection, and electoral representation.
Head of Tracka, Joshua Osiyeimi, stressed that the issue goes beyond the financial figures.
“We recognise that for some, N129.5 billion is an abstraction, a large figure in a country accustomed to large figures. We want to be clear about what this money was supposed to deliver and what its absence means in practical terms,” he said.
“An accurate, credible population census is not a statistical exercise. It is the foundation upon which every serious development decision in a modern state is built,” Osiyeimi added.
He noted that outdated data has led to overcrowded classrooms, under-resourced health facilities, inequitable allocation of federal resources, and flawed electoral representation.
The organisation questioned what had become of the funds, stating that “N129.5 billion was paid, at least in part, to address this problem. The problem remains entirely unaddressed.”
Urges anti-graft probes over stalled 2023 population count
Tracka called on the NPC to immediately comply with its FOI request and publish a full account of all funds disbursed for the census, including contractors, contract values, and deliverables, alongside a clear timeline for completing the exercise.
It also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the utilisation of the funds, saying “the scale of spending against the complete absence of outcomes warrants urgent investigative attention.”
The group further asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to review procurement processes linked to the contracts, while calling on the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committees to summon the NPC for a public hearing.
“Tracka exists because Nigerians deserve a government that can be held to account, not only at election time, but every day and in every line of the public budget,” it maintained.
The organisation described the stalled census as emblematic of deeper governance challenges.
“The suspended 2023 census is not simply a technocratic failure. It is a symbol of a governance culture in which billions can be spent, projects can be abandoned, laws can be violated, and institutions can remain silent without consequence.”
“We do not accept that silence. Nigeria cannot plan its future without knowing its people. And Nigerians cannot trust their government without knowing where their money went.
“We will be watching. And we will keep asking,” it added.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X
