UNFPA partners NPC for credible census in 2023

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Collins Opiyo, has said his organisation is partnering with the National Population Commission (NPC) on e-registration of ad-hoc workers for best global practices

The Chief Technical Adviser (CTA) to NPC confirmed that UNFPA was working with the commission to ensure that the 2023 head count tallies with international standards and best practices.

According to him, the principles – UN P&Rs for 2020 world programme on population and housing census –emphasise increased use of technology and innovations in implementation to improve data quality and timeliness of products thereof.

Opiyo observed: “The rolling out of e-recruitment portal is a game-changer to ensure adequate and competitive recruitment of quality, motivated and able-bodied professionals to facilitate collection of quality data nationally.

“Effective use of this portal is a big step towards helping Nigeria to obtain the long and much-awaited quality census data for making important decisions and put the nation on a clear path to achieving the national development vision, Agenda 2064, and special development goals, among others.

“So, in a nutshell, NPC is rewriting the history of census in Nigeria, and UNFPA is gratified to be part of that incredible history.”

NPC chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, in his remarks, said since President Muhammadu Buhari, on advice of the National Council of State, had approved mock census for this month prior to the April 2023 exercise, the commission would leave no stone unturned for a successful venture.

He said the trial census, also known as “census dress rehearsal,” is one of the pre-census activities, that is a process in which all census operations are tested in a detailed and comprehensive manner, taking place, ideally, and as a matter of best practice, one year ahead of the actual census date, when major external circumstances such as season (weather), holiday periods, school year schedule can be expected to be like when the census proper will be conducted.”

Kwarra noted that the quality of personnel for the job at hand was important, as it would impact greatly on outcome of the assignment.