The Kogi State Director of the National Population Commission (NPC), Mr Ojo Abiodun has called on the traditional rulers to enlighten their subjects on the importance of census without any emotional attachment.
The NPC Director made the call when he led members of the state census publicity committee to the palace of the paramount ruler of Igala Kingdom and chairman of Kogi State Council of Chiefs, Matthew Opaluwa in furtherance of the zonal advocacy visits to traditional rulers across the state.
Mr Abiodun briefed the Igala traditional Chiefs on the activities of the Commission towards the forthcoming population and housing census, and the complementary role of the traditional institution, aimed at a hitch-free and acceptable census figure for Nigeria.
The NPC Director explained that preparations for the 2023 census had been in progress, adding that in spite of the recent postponement by the federal government, Census 2023 is still on course as sensitive and non-sensitive census materials for the state have been received while adequate logistics have been mobilized for the smooth conduct of the exercise
According to him, enumeration area demarcation as well as training of ad-hoc census field workers has been successfully completed in readiness for the awaited census.
The NPC State Director hinted that the postponement was informed by the need to give opportunity to the in-coming administration to make decisions on the census process, with a view to making it outcome highly acceptable to the new administration that would adopt the Nation’s census outcome for planning and development purposes.
The NPC Director said considering the splurge of huge government spending on the project, no administration could ever abandon the project, with its huge development benefits to the government and citizens
The traditional ruler said in a response that the traditional rulers in his domain are being mobilized to correct the misconceptions about census as some of the s rural Communities believe census is about taxation.
He assured members of the state census publicity committee that the Igala traditional Council would step up the sensitization campaign on the importance of the census, as he promised the readiness of traditional rulers to provide accommodations, feeding and guide to census field workers posted to his domain in the course of the exercise.
A simultaneous advocacy visit on the Ohinoyi of Ebira land, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim and the Obaro of Kabba, Oba Owoniyi Oladele Solomon, was led by Kogi State Federal Commissioner of National Population Commission, Professor Isah Habibat Jimoh, represented by Mrs. Omattah Ralie Moronmubo, Head of Vital Registration and Public Affairs, NPC State Office, in company of Media Executives and other Publicity Committee members, drawn from various interest groups in the state.
The membership of the state CPC comprised the National Council of Women Society of Nigeria (NCWSN), the Kogi State Market Women Association, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), The Council of Ulamma’u, the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Heads of media organizations in the state.
Similar visits to Ohimege of Koton-Karfe and Maigari of Lokoja, are scheduled to take place at a later date as part of the Population Commission’s sustained efforts at raising grassroots awareness on the 2023 Census in Kogi State.
PIAK
