…Commends Nigeria’s Preparation for National Census…

Charges Regional govts/Stakeholders to support NPC on Advocacy

The Commonwealth Joint Commitee on Population Census Monitoring in West Africa (CJCPCMWA) , a regional think tank accredited by the Commonwealth of Nations has commended the Nigerian government for it’s commitment to the implementation of updated protocols on the conduct of national census exercise as recommended by the United Nations. The group in a press release issued to media on Friday in Abuja and signed by Nigeria’s country rep, Barr Sam Ode Oduma, the group while acknowledging the commitment of president Tinubu led administration to actualize a credible Census observed that state governors have not accorded the exercise the priority it deserves particularly in terms of creating the needed sensitisation and awareness.

The executive director emphasized that a successful national census exercise remains the only guaranteed source of credible data for planning and development by government at all levels hence the need to support it’s actualization. “The duty to conduct a national Population Census exercise may fall on the federal government in terms of constitutional provisions but the ultimate responsibility falls on the shoulders of the all stakeholders who are in contact with the people at the grassroots” if the governors prioritize census exercise even without financial commitment, it will go a long way in achieving the the goal of a truly credible Census in the end. This commitment is expected of all leaders if we must achieve set objectives.The statement added.

The group further noted that the National Population Commission (NPC) under the leadership of Alh Nasir Isa Kwarra has been consistent in the efforts towards reforming the conduct of census to meet international best practices. “Under the current leadership of the Commission, the Nigerian government has led multiple Committees under the United Nations supervision as part of Nigeria’s commitment to global standards integration.

The support and recognition of the United Nations to Nigeria in it’s bid to achieve the first digital census exercise is a major significant shift that requires collective support from all stakeholders ” The state governors are expected to lead the charge in this efforts so as to bring the essence of census exercise to the grassroots people” The group insisted that religious leaders as well as traditional and political class as well as sport managers and social influencers all have roles to play in the census advocacy if we must have a credible census exercise worth the resources and the wait “

“If governors prioritize national census exercise , the results will fast track development and streamline management of resources for the overall objectives of goverment. “But at the moment our findings suggest that governors are not doing as much as required on the census advocacy and our appeal only seeks to draw attention to the enormous advantages of census in terms of planning and development ” So ours is a moral call for governors to leverage on the preparedness of the federal government to achieve the overall objectives”

The group further commended the National Population Commission for the consistent reforms in the Commission especially on the resources deployed on Information Communication Technology and planing to advance the Commission’s objective for a credible digital census exercise.
The group appreciated CSOs and Media on their patriotic roles and tasked them to maintain support for the Commission in the overall public interest.