The National Bureau of Statistics has voiced concern over the lack of funding from the government to carry out its activities, including a population census, as the country prepares for elections next year.
Speaking during the plenary session of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) on Thursday, Augustino Ting Mayai, Chairperson of the National Bureau of Statistics, said if necessary resources are availed, they will be able to provide the information required for elections.
“Well, what we projected in February 2024 is that if we are given the resources, we can accomplish this task within 16 months, and that still stands. If the resources are provided, say, tomorrow or even by the end of next month, we should be able to provide the information needed for elections before elections,” he said. “Within a month, we should be able to produce what we call priority tables. This is where we have the populations for different locations, different districts or counties, or states, which the Elections Commission can use to create those districts.”
According to Ting, they require roughly USD 100 million, which was approved last year, but to date, they have not been given a penny.
“We were then advised by the Minister of Finance that USD 38 million would be released right away for us to begin the planning process. That has not yet been released,” he explained. “We are also told, given the mobilization approach we have taken with the international community, that the government has to put something in the basket before additional resources can be made available in an international setting.”
Ting said the finance minister and the Bureau of Statistics are working together to raise the required resources before seeking international support for additional resources.