Consultations with data users and the public between 2016 and 2023 showed the value of continuing the topics from the 2006 Census with a number of adjustments and additions to the questions.
The developement of the 2023 PHC questionnaire had allowed for data collected to be useful for planning with a careful consideration of the burden and time taken to fill the questionnaire by both the enumerator and the respondent.
It is important for Census data to be comparable and compatible with previous Censuses and also with other data produced by other statistical agencies in Nigeria and the wider community.
The Census uses the current 2006 classifications where applicable but reviewed them to reflect changes in the Nigerian society. Where there were no 2006 classifications, Census-specific classifications have been developed and are reviewed prior to each test. The changes that have occured since 2011 are described below:
Other introductions or modifications to the questionnaire are:
Questions on birth Registration were introduced to identify people that have registered their births in the country and with which agency
Under Literacy, the options have been reframed to identify persons that can read or write with understanding, so also those that can only read but cannot write with understanding
Under nationality, a variable has been introduced, that is, Dual Nationality to identify people who are Nigerians and have another Nationality.
The title ‘Persons living with disability’ was replaced with ‘Persons with difficulties in performing certain tasks’ in line with the Washington D.C recommendations. Also, two variables, (Albinos and Speech) have been introduced into the questions.
On Economic Characteristics, the 2023 PHC questionnaire will reference 7 days from census night.
New variables have also been added to this section namely, engagement in work, reason for inactivity and employment status.
Download NPC Questionnaire
The Information Communication Technology section has been introduced into the individual persons section with the aim of soliciting answers to three variables – owned ICT devices, devices used to access internet, and usual place of Internet access.
Also, the Fertility and Mortality section was introduced into the persons section of the questionnaire because of the need for robust data to close gaps in development planning.
In the Housing and Amenities secion, more questions on sanitation has been introduced with variables covering Solid Waste Storage, Solid Waste Disposal, Number of Toilet Rooms, Waste Water Disposal, and Sharing of Toilet Facility which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) which states that, by year 2030, Nigeria can achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defeacation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
Source: NPC Census Released