Population and National Planning (The Nigeria context) The issues and the way forward

POPULATION AND NATIONAL PLANNING; THE ISSUES AND THE WAY FORWARD

National planning is an important requirement in achieving productivity and a veritable requirement for nation building. The possibility of achieving quality and sustainable health care system, solution-oriented educational system, human capital improvement, service optimization in government institutions, infrastructural development, employment and wealth creation and protection of national interest through foreign policy is dependent on the quality of planning and this planning cannot be qualitative if population is not made an integral part of it.

Over the years, Nigeria has been considered a home of so much assumptions without interest in rigor and this has impacted negatively on the quality of our planning, international reputation and national progress. This sometimes exaggerates or underestimates our problems and partly the reason why despite huge budget amount, infrastructural deficit, poor human capital development remains unabated. The knowledge of actual population size, composition and distribution are the foundational bases upon which national development is pursued and baseless assumption of same impedes the manifestation of efforts at national development.

THE ISSUES;

In the case of Nigeria, it is common knowledge that our budget financing is mostly from the proceeds of crude oil but while the source of revenue is very important, we sadly ignore the size, composition and distribution of the people we are budgeting for. A proper study of population size, composition and distribution will reveal that many Nigerian youths who are supposed to be human capital assets to the country are happy in the diaspora with or without quality living conditions while a large number are persistent visa applicants and some who may not have the money or patience to wait for the visa process which sometimes does not end favorably usually choose to go through the desert which in some cases end in arrest or eventual death. A judicious study of our population will reveal the integrity level of our population data and unbundle the figures approved by the National Population Commission. The study will also reveal some of the adopted values of our society, housing problems, and infrastructural demands, impact of educational curriculum, level of patriotism and global perception of our country which is sometimes considered a failed state.

This neglect makes it impossible for us to give quality data on literacy level, number of homeless Nigerians, number of diseased Nigerians, physically challenged and those who need special attention such as autism, albinism, down-syndrome etc. and to check high level of outward migration.

THE WAY FORWARD;

To achieve quality planning which must include details of population characteristics, the following must be considered

Government institutions like the National Population Commission must be better empowered and reawakened from slumber to contribute meaningfully through quality data research, presentation and analysis. Also the National Bureau of Statistics which is presently improved should be considered a “consultant” to ensure proper representation of required recommendation into the planning process to achieve balance and optimization.

Government should make data capturing less paper driven by switching completely to the digital method to make us more accessible globally and permit citizens participation in the process.

Government should invest heavily in quality human capital development via qualitative formal and informal education through quality infrastructural development, competitive welfare packages for tutors, review and the incorporation of modern day curriculum, quality health care system, sound social reorientation to kill the quest for outward migration and instill the belief in national pride through home-grown innovation and success.

Government should eliminate all forms of gender based violence against women and girls including harmful practices such as FGM, child and forceful marriage which projects our nation in a bad light through prevention and ensuring access to social and legal services for all victims.

In conclusion, productivity is the result of proper planning and execution. Nigeria as a country needs to embrace careful and deliberate pursuit of national development by making Nigerians the focal point of the planning process through ensuring quality and accessible health care, education, infrastructural development, institutional service optimization, wealth creation, human capital development, quality economic management and intentional plans to end massive outward migration as these are the ways to earn respect for both nation and nationals, ensure productivity and national growth.

This article was originally published on Ipopulation by this same publisher