SGF PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR NEXT CENSUS

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume has assured the National Population Commission of the Federal Government's commitment to the successful conduct of the upcoming Population and Housing Census. He said that the census was a critical national exercise and that the Federal Government would provide all the necessary support to ensure its success.

Sen. Akume disclosed this when he received in audience a delegation from National Population Commission led by its Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra in his office in Abuja. The NPC team came to brief SGF on the level of preparations for the upcoming Population and Housing Census and also solicit his support for the successful conduct of the exercise.

The SGF also commended the NPC for the progress it had made in its preparations for the census and urged the Commission to continue to work hard to ensure that the exercise was conducted in a free, fair, and credible manner.

‘The census is a critical national exercise that will provide data on the size, distribution, and characteristics of Nigeria's population. The data collected from the census will be used for planning and development purposes at all levels of government,’ he said.

Earlier while stating the purpose of his visit, the Chairman of National Population Commission, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra informed the SGF that the Commission had made significant progress in its preparations for the census and that all hands were on deck to ensure a successful exercise.

He highlighted some of the key milestones that had been achieved, including the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) and geospatial resources generated from the exercise, census pretests and trial census, mapping and identification of special population groups, advocacy and partnerships, recruitment and training of census personnel, procurement of PDAs and the technological innovation deployed to ensure efficiency and transparency in the census exercise.

NPC boss informed the SGF that ‘The Commission has visited and briefed Mr. President on the status of the preparation for the next census and that President has also graciously directed that the Commission continue with the advocacy and publicity for the next census and promised a new date for the Census.’

Hon. Kwarra also solicited the support of the SGF in ensuring that the census received the necessary funding and other resources required for its successful conduct.

‘The Commission respectfully requests the SGF to help facilitate the proclamation of a new date for the census because the more the delay, the more the budget for the census will go up, as many preparatory activities will have to be repeated,’ he said.

He emphasized the importance of the census for national development and called on all Nigerians to participate actively in the exercise.

‘The Commission will generate credible, reliable and acceptable data that will help to achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President in planning for sustainable socio-economic development,’ he stated.