From Pascal Nwigwe, Abuja

A source at the National Assembly said that the meeting was necessitated by complaints from the House Committee on Population that it was kept in the dark over arrangements for the head count. It was further learnt that the issues of religion, which was not included in the census data, may top the agenda of the meeting.

Disclosing today's meeting to reporters, Chairman, House Sub-Committee on the NPC, Alex Ukam, said the meeting became necessary since lawmakers were not adequately informed about the commission's preparation for the census.

Last week Thursday, NPC commissioners were at the National Assembly to brief the Speaker on their activities towards the head count. They said that the commission last year came out with the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the entire country.

The commission had also requested for higher budgetary allocation to pay salaries and arrears of its workers who are threatening to embark on strike.

Meanwhile, the NPC has been urged to include religion in the data for the 2005 census. Speaking at a weekend seminar in Abuja, a cleric, Rev. Paul Enenche, said the exclusion of religion on the census form could lead to rancour.

At a separate briefing at the weekend, Bishop Francis Wole Oke of the Stronghold of Christ said those canvassing for the exclusion of religious affiliation in the census data have something to hide.