Leveraging Digital Data for a Credible and Cost-Effective Census
Executive Summary
Nigeria has not conducted a reliable national census since 2006. This has left policymakers reliant on outdated and contested data. The planned 2023 census was budgeted at N896 billion and designed as the first fully digital count. However, it was indefinitely postponed after N234 billion had already been spent.
Traditional nationwide headcounts are fiscally unsustainable, politically contested, and increasingly constrained by insecurity. Yet accurate demographic data remain essential. They are the foundation for resource allocation, service delivery and long-term planning.
To address this persistent data gap, this brief advocates a hybrid census model that draws on existing administrative data. These include the National Identity Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), voter register, and SIM registration. Targeted field verification would capture population segments not yet recorded digitally. This approach balances efficiency with comprehensive coverage. Hybrid models can save up to N300–400 billion. This would reduce per capita census costs by 40–50%.
Experiences from Ghana, South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya and Egypt show digital integration works. It delivers reliable results in resource-constrained contexts.
Nigeria must adapt these lessons to its unique institutional and security environment. Success will require a clear digital census framework. Data must be harmonised, hybrid approaches piloted, and secure infrastructure funded. Public trust must also be built through transparent engagement.
Digging into the Future: Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Mining on Education in Bauchi and Plateau States, Nigeria
Executive Summary This paper explores the complex interplay between mining activities and school dropout rates in Bauchi and Plateau states, Nigeria. Mining is a significant economic activity, yet its social and environmental impacts often go unaddressed. In rural and peri-urban communities, mining displaces families, exposes children to labour, and compromises access to quality education. As highlighted by UNICEF (2022), access to education is fundamental to poverty reduction, and disruptions caused by mining deepen socio-economic inequalities. Comparative insights from Ghana and South Africa demonstrate that effective policy interventions—such as community reinvestment, mobile schooling, and child protection services—can mitigate these effects. This paper recommends a multi-stakeholder approach involving government, mining corporations, NGOs, and local communities to ensure educational resilience in mining zones
Breaking The Cycle: Policy Options To End Public Primary School Teachers’ Strikes In FCT Abuja
Executive Summary
Public primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, boycotted classes twice in December 2024. The teachers who are protesting the non-implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage, among other grievances, embarked on strike in February 2025. Yet again, the tutors have shut down classes in another strike action, making it the 4th time of abandoning teaching and learning in four months! The public primary schools in FCT Abuja that employ 8,321 teachers are currently locked down owing to the lack of teachers at their duty posts. At the heart of the crisis are wage disputes, poor working conditions, and government inaction. These strikes deepen educational inequality, diminish public confidence in the system, and affect families. This Policy Pulse outlines the consequences of this recurrent disruption and presents actionable policy options to stabilise the system and prevent future occurrences.
Reforming Transparency in Nigerian Universities to Unlock Global Funding and Restore Credibility
Background And Problem Statement Globally, institutions of higher learning—such as universities, polytechnics, and research institutes—serve as vital engines for national development. Through research, innovation, and human capital development, these institutions […]