NPC assures Nigerians that the 2023 census would adhere to the highest standards worldwide

“This ambition has influenced the approach and calibre of census preparations in recent years.”

Nigerians have been promised by the National Population Commission (NPC) that the 2023 Census will adhere to the highest international standards.

At the launch of the State Census Publicity Committee for the 2023 Population and Housing Census, Bala Banye, the NPC Federal Commissioner in charge of Katsina State, gave this guarantee.

At the occasion on Thursday at the Deputy Governor’s Conference Hall, General Muhammadu Buhari Mansion in Katsina, he said, “We have the clear vision, commitment, and competence to execute on this historic mandate.” “I am honoured to be present at this important press conference for the 2023 Population and Housing Census and the launch of the 2023 Population and Housing Katsina State Census Publicity Committee.

In fact, this occasion represents yet another significant step forward for the Commission’s efforts to conduct the 2023 Census successfully and produce demographic statistics based on fact for use in development planning. The primary goal of the 2023 census is to create data that will be used by all facets of society for crucial programme interventions and development planning, as well as data that is inclusive, trustworthy, and acceptable.

Hence, as part of this pledge, the Commission will use only digital technology to conduct the census, going above and beyond to make sure that the outcome is acceptable to Nigerians and that the quality of the data produced reaches the highest standards possible. In recent years, the approach and level of census preparation have been influenced by this ambition.

The 2023 Population and Housing Census is scheduled to begin on May 3, 2023, which is precisely 27 days after the 24-member committee is officially established. State Deputy Governor Mannir Yakubu will serve as the group’s chair.

He is reiterating the need of lobbying in order to achieve a smooth exercise.

“In all of these, the importance of publicity, lobbying, and public education cannot be overstated.

“The National Population Commission has been actively working to keep stakeholders at all levels informed about the advancement of its initiatives around the country.

“As part of the strategy to ensure success, the Commission undertook a massive public awareness programme to educate every citizen of the country on the relevance of and benefits to be derived from the conduct of a population and housing census, create awareness, and to solicit his/her utmost cooperation in order to facilitate the exercise and its successful conduct,” he said.

He mentioned that a workshop will be held to update the Committee’s members on census preparations.

He clarified that the purpose of this is to guarantee that the State Census Publicity Committee’s members have a solid understanding of the procedures and methods for the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

According to Banye, the Committee should also have complete confidence in the Commission’s backing as it carries out this crucial national job.

The National Population Commission is unwaveringly devoted to making sure that everything related to the 2023 census is carried out correctly and professionally, he also used the occasion to reassure Nigerians and the world community.

The Committee Chairman Mannir mentioned in his remarks that it had been 17 years since the last National Population Census.

He insisted that Katsina had over 5,801,584 residents, making it the fourth-most populated state in the nation according to the results of the 2006 Census.

It’s also important to remember that the 2023 National Population and Housing Census will be conducted digitally. For this reason, the State Government established two major committees to coordinate the conduct of the upcoming 2023 National Census exercise in accordance with the Federal Government’s guidelines. They are the State Population Census Publicity Committee and the State Population Census Security and Logistics Committee, respectively.

“The two committees have been tasked with advising, planning, and sensitising residents around the State’s hosting of the National Population Census in 2023.

To guarantee adequate publicity coverage for the activity at local government levels, the Local Government Publicity Committee has also been established.

In light of this, His Excellency, Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, CFR, authorised the membership of the State Census Publicity Committee with the following Terms of Reference:

“To develop and implement efficient publicity strategies for both State and Local Government Census Publicity Committees; to widely implement the enlightenment and sensitization campaign on the upcoming 2023 National Population and Housing Census; and to co-opt any person(s) relevant to the execution of the assignment.

“From what I can see, the members of this Committee were carefully chosen based on their skill and experience, thus. I am certain that you would do the task to the best of your ability and in the State’s best interests. Immediately following the inauguration, the Committee will start its work, he said.