2023 Census: NPC Challenges Committee On Adequate Sensitization Of FCT Residents

By: Ben Ukeji

Determined to conduct a credible and acceptable National Population and Housing Census next month, the National Population Commission (NPC ), has challenged members of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Publicity Committee to ensure the success of the forthcoming Census by fully sensitizing residents of the territory to participate in the exercise.

Federal
Commissioner, NPC, FCT, Hon. Joseph Shazin Kwali, gave the charge during a Capacity Building Workshop organized for members of the FCT Publicity Committee Thursday, at Merit House, Maitama District, Abuja.

Kwali said the Commission is poised to bequeath to the nation, accurate, reliable, and evidence-based demographic data for development planning.

He said for any organization to successfully achieve its goals, it must design a reliable, dependable means of information dissemination to the target audience and stakeholders to secure their cooperation.

He revealed that the template for the FCT as well as its Questionnaire for the 2023 Census does not include Religion and Ethnicity; saying the planned Headcount is purely based on generating inclusive and user-friendly data that will be useful to all segments of society for development and critical program interventions.

According to him, to achieve this onerous task, members of the Committee must exhibit a high level of commitment and dedication to this all-important National assignment.
The Commissioner stated that the media’s role in education, enlightenment, and mobilization of the public on government policies and programs can not be underestimated by Commission.

Kwali, therefore, urged members of the committee to deploy their wealth of knowledge and experience to sufficiently sensitise the FCT populace to avail themselves and their households to the enumerators during the exercise.

He explained that the workshop was put together by the FCT office of the Commission to update members of the Publicity Committee on the process and methodology involved in the 2023 National Population and Housing Census.

Also speaking at the occasion, Director, Information and Communication, FCT, Muhammad Hazat Sule, said the FCT Administration under the leadership of Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, is committed to supporting the Commission in the Territory for it to achieve a remarkable Census.
Sule reaffirmed the importance of the proposed Census and called on all residents of the FCT to fully participate in the exercise by presenting themselves to be counted.

He noted that the demographic data generated from the 2023 Census will assist the Administration in a purposeful plan for the socio-economic and educational needs of the residents.
The Director, therefore, urged participants in the workshop to make judicious use of the knowledge gained during the training for proper awareness creation.
Earlier, the Chairman, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, FCT Chapter, Emmanuel Ogbeche, said the Committee’s task is essential to the realization of a hitch-free Census in the FCT.

He affirmed the commitment of the union to a successful Headcount and said he believed the workshop would address the identified gaps in the sensitization of the FCT Residents Committee.