There will be no National Population Commission (NPC) if the commission fails the Federal Government in the 2022 National Census, Prof Jimoh Habibat-Isah, the Kogi State NPC Federal Commissioner has warned.
Habibat-Isah gave the warning on Friday during the flag-off of the 10-Day Training of Enumerators, Supervisors and Controllers for the 2nd Census Pretest exercise, held at Youth Council Hall, Lokoja, Kogi State.
“The Federal Government has so much trust in NPC for the successful conduct of 2022 population census to enable it to plan for the socio-economic development of the nation.
“This is why we are into a series of training of all controllers, Supervisors and enumerators for our 2nd pretests exercise towards ensuring that we get it right come next year’s census.
“You should therefore know that this training is not out of place for whoever is recruited for the 2nd pretest exercise coming up between Dec 3 and Dec 10.
“You must assimilate whatever is being given to you in this training because you have supervisors and quality assurance Officers watching you and you must get it right during the pretest exercise in Kogi State.
“This is all towards ensuring that the 2022 census is a success so that we don’t fall into the hands of the Federal Government, which has all its trust in us. We must not fail but get it right this time around.
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“If we fail, be sure the commission will be folded up by the government, therefore, we should get it right to stay afloat,” he warned.
According to him, one significant benefit of a national census is to afford the government the opportunity of fair sharing of the national cake.
He further disclosed that there is going to be rigorous advocacy in the State and nation as a whole in various languages to sensitise citizens on the importance of the census.
Also speaking, the State Director of the NPC, Mr Abiodun Titus-Ojo, expressed the readiness of the commission’s staff towards ensuring hitch-free and successful conduct of the 2022 population census.
“As Patriots, we understand what matching order is, especially the one the government has given to us and by God’s grace, we shall not fail.
“We are today assuring the Federal Government that we are ready to get it right this time so that our commission shall not be closed down,” Titus-Ojo pledged.
