The Hon. Federal Commissioner in charge of the National Population Commission in Kwara State, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Folorunso Gidado, has called on the Federal Government to ensure that the Population and Housing Census exercise is conducted this year to comply with international best practices.
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During a breakfast meeting with Media Executives in Ilorin, Alhaji Gidado emphasized that if the conduct of the 2023 Census exceeds this year, it would become out of date in compliance with international best practices in terms of technology, timeline, among other variables.
He stressed that the Commission is ready to deliver an acceptable and verifiable digital census for the country.
“The National Population Commission is set to conduct the 2023 Census this year. Postponement of the exercise was not because the Commission was not ready as every arrangement had been made”.
“No date has been fixed yet for the conduct of the exercise, but we believe that in no distant time, the date will be given. Anytime we’re called upon, we’re ready,” he said.
Alhaji Gidado advised that all the resources put into the preparation should not be allowed to go down the drain.
He added that a forum of the NPC Federal Commissioners in the country has commenced consultations with the Presidency on the need to allow the national census to hold this year, as the exercise was capable of addressing myriad national problems and agitations from various parts of the federation.
The Hon. Federal Commissioner explained that the national census was supposed to be held every 10 years according to the United Nations standard, adding that Nigeria held its national census almost 17 years ago.
The disclosed that a total number of 18,000 ad-hoc functionaries had been recruited for the exercise in the state, including 913 facilitators to train at LG levels, 14,026 enumerators, 466 Special Work Force (SWF), data quality managers (DQM) as well as training centre coordinators.
Alhaji Gidado solicited the support of journalists in the state for the task ahead and called for media support on the exercise that was meant to be digital. He said that the message on the mode and reason for the exercise should get to the grassroots.
