President Bola Tinubu has declined the National Population Commission’s N942bn proposal for the national housing and population census, according to Saturday PUNCH. According to sources familiar with the discussions at the State House on Monday, February 24, 2025, Tinubu emphasized the need for cost-cutting measures. He suggested deploying National Youth Service Corps members for the exercise. After a briefing from NPC officials led by Chairman Nasir Kwarra, Tinubu pledged to form a committee to align the census budget with the government's financial realities. In a statement, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga quoted Tinubu as saying, “This stop-and-go activity on the census cannot work with me. So, we better have a definite path.” Tinubu was quoted to have said further, “I will set up a committee for you to look at the issues critically and do a source and application of resources. Where can we get help, and what can we lift before we embark on proclamation?” The government official said, “The main issue from that meeting was that the money they were proposing was quite much. It is around N942bn. That is almost N1tn. And the President felt that it was too much. That is why he said there would be a committee to look at the issues altogether because that cost must come down. “He wants to do it. He wants the census to happen. But the cost is too high. His goal is that they should do it for less.” Another insider at the meeting further revealed that Tinubu suggested a massive deployment of NYSC members nationwide to cut personnel costs. “He was even suggesting that they recruit youth corps members to make it cheaper,” the official revealed.