2023 CENSUS: NPC EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY OF PERSONNEL IN EBONYI TROUBLED COMMUNITIES

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Following the lingering security concerns in Effium and Ezza Effium communities in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, the National Population Commission (NPC) says it will ensure that people in the area are not left out in the 2023 National Population and Housing Census.

Briefing journalists in Abakaliki on the recruitment process for the 2023 National Census, the Federal Commissioner in charge of Ebonyi State, Chief Darlington Okereke, explained that the Commission would take a decision if the warring communities continued to fail to guarantee the safety of NPC personnel.

According to the Federal Commissioner, about 9,000 Enumeration Areas were created in the state but the demarcation of Effium and Ezza Effium communities would enable the Commission to determine the total number of Enumerators, Facilitators, Training Centre Administrators, Monitoring and Evaluations Officers, Data Quality Managers, Assistants , Coordinators and Supervisors to be recruited.

‘’The quality of recruitment process will reflect on the quality of the data to be collected and ultimately the success of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

‘’However, it is worthy of note, that a good recruitment exercise will not by itself necessarily guarantee a successful headcount, a badly conducted recruitment process will inevitably lead to problems and increase the risk of an unsuccessful census,” he said.

Chief Okereke called on prospective adhoc staff to log on to the website www.2023censusadhocrecruitment.nationalpopulation.gov.ng emphasising that there would be no political consideration for those to be recruited.

He added that the adhoc staff would be drawn from the communities where they are residents, noting that the process would reduce huge logistics of moving personnel across the state.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU