Population commission seeks support of Traditional Rulers in its enumeration exercise
By Tunde Akanbi, Ilorin
The National Population Commission, NPC, has sought for the support of traditional rulers in Kwara State for the success of its coming enumeration and demarcation exercise in the three local government areas in the state where the exercise will take place by December this year.
The Commissioner for the Commission in Kwara State, Rasaq Gidado made the plea at a meeting with the traditional rulers in Irepodun, Ekiti and Oke-Ero Local Government Areas of the Kwara South where the exercise will take place.
Speaking at the palace of the Olupo of Ajasse-Ipo, Oba Sikiru Atanda Sanni Woleola the second, Gidado said the coming enumeration and demarcation exercise is not the proper census but the foundation to build census on.
“We know the importance of having support of the traditional rulers and the people of the communities in our activities and as a result of that, we are here to intimate you and seek for your support for the coming enumeration and demarcation exercise that will begin on 19th of December 2020 to 20th of January 2021”
“The enumeration and demarcation is an exercise that is always carried out by the National Population Commission, ahead of the general census” he explained.
The NPC boss therefore implored the royal fathers to give members of staff of the commission that will be out for the assignment all the necessary support most especially in the area of security.
He also disclosed that the community will have the privilege of presenting a representative that will be taking the people around the various communities in a particular area.
While addressing the traditional rulers from Oke-Ero and Ekiti Local Government Areas gathered at Oke-Ero Local Government headquarters in Iloffa, the Commissioner disclosed that the commission no longer relies on pen and paper for its work but now explore technology in areas of Satelite imagery and Geographical Informatiom System.
The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba AbdulRaheem Adeoti at his palace in Omu-Aran, also declared support for the commission.
However, he said one of the major problems the country is facing is lack of proper data of people that are living in a particular area which according to him, had made it difficult for the government to cater for its citizens
The monarch disclosed that the exercise is long overdue, and promised to give adequate support to the workers of the commission that will be deployed to his domain for the exercise.
In continuation of the advocacy, the commission also visited groups of Royal Fathers at the Palace of Olosi of Osi, Oba (Alhaji) Salihu Abdulkareem Adasofegbe who is the Chairman of Traditional rulers in Ekiti Local Government Area.
Addressing the monarchs, the NPC Federal Commissioner, intimated them on the reason for the visit and sought for their unflinching support for the workers of the commission that will be visiting their domains for the exercise.
Gidado, also disclosed that the commission will commence training for the workers that will be deployed for the exercise on the 10th of December in the state.
Similar advocacy visit had earlier been held in five local government areas in the state namely Edu, Patigi, Ilorin South, Isin and Oyun.
