…holds media, stakeholders meeting
The National Population Commission, NPC says it is waiting for the presidential proclamation to conduct the 2023 population and Housing census saying further delay may be dangerous.
The Federal Commissioner of NPC in Ekiti State, Mr Ayodeji Ajayi stated this in Ado-Ekiti during a meeting with media executives and stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Ayodeji Ajayi explained that the proclamation of the president would give room for the conduct of the census without much delay, in view of the level of preparedness of the commission for the exercise.
The NPC Federal Commissioner in Ekiti State said all preparatory activities for the census had been carried out before it was postponed, hence the need to conduct it as soon as possible, in order not to start the process afresh.
According to Mr Ajayi, the commission is currently reviewing the processes and systems that have been put in place to ensure that they do not become obsolete before another date is fixed.
He noted that if the exercise is delayed beyond necessary, some of the processes already carried out by the commission may no longer be relevant and such would cost the nation another resources to start afresh.
He said NPC would continue to carry out advocacy to ensure that information about the census are always with the people.
In his welcome address, the Director, National Population Commission, NPC in Ekiti state, Mr. Richard Adebola said the aim of the meeting was to educate the people on the reasons for the postponement of the exercise.
Mr Adebola noted that the importance of the press in informing the people at the grassroots on the activities of the commission in conducting a reliable and accurate census.
In their remarks, some of the Media Executives, including the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ in Ekiti State, Mr Rotimi Ojomoyela urged NPC not to relent in carrying the press along in its activities.
The immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari on April 28, this year announced the postponement of the National Population and Housing Census earlier scheduled to hold between May 3 and 7.