The National Population Census (NPC) Federal Commissioner representing Ekiti State, Honourable Deji Ajayi, has disclosed that the Commission is leaving no stone unturned at ensuring that both census officials and Nigerians are safe before and during the enumeration.

The NPC boss explained that one of the steps taken is to ensure that field functionaries are properly kitted and trained to observe all Covid-19 protocols throughout the period of the exercise as prescribed by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19.

Speaking while declaring open a workshop for the trainers, enumerators, supervisors and comptrollers that will be participating in the second census pre-test exercise slated for December 2021 Ajayi charged the management team on professionalism.

The federal commissioner explained that the exercise will be conducted in all the 36 states of the federation simultaneously including Abuja the Federal Capital Territory adding that it is a follow up to the one earlier conducted by the Commission earlier this year.

He noted that it was as a result of the continued efforts of the Commission to improve on its readiness for the 2022 census that makes it resolve to conduct the second pre-test exercise as an integral part of the preparation for the fieldwork exercise.

Ajayi equally enjoined stakeholders to refrain from undue interference in the exercise stressing that field functionaries be allowed to carry out their duties professionally and give the nation a good outcome that will help the Commission in its effort to prepare for a successful census.

He said, “Pre-test is usually conducted before the actual census and is primarily aimed at testing the census methodology, questionnaires, data collection methods, manual for fieldwork among others.

Other importance of the exercise mentioned by him are logistics support from states and local government areas, adequacy of techniques adopted for advocacy, examination of the relationship between Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) estimated population and adequacy of the data capture method adopted to mention a few.

“In carrying out this pre-test exercise, about 444 Enumeration areas per State and Federal Capital Territory in all the local government areas and States of the Federation demarcated between 7th to 17th phases of the EAD will be involved.

“In Ekiti State, we are working in Ikere, Efon local governments which are one town council areas, others are Ilejemeje and Ekiti West local governments, as well as other towns like Okemesi, Aramoko, Erinjiyan, Iye, Ewu and Iludun towns.

While expressing his optimism on the success of the outcome of the pre-test exercise, Ajayi however reiterated that the Commission would ensure proper train of supervisors and the enumerators that would be participating in the exercise.

“It must be emphasised that the quality of the personnel for the pre-test has a great impact on its outcomes. The need to properly train the facilitators who will in turn train the supervisors and the enumerators at the zonal and state levels cannot, therefore, be overemphasized.

“May I restate that, getting the pre-test right is not just an option but an absolute necessity in our quest to deliver to the nation an accurate, reliable, acceptable and verifiable census. It is in this regard that the Commission will leave no stone unturned in order to ensure that the second pre-test for the next census is carried out meticulously, professionally and scientifically in order to provide the basis for the smooth conduct of the next Census.

He appealed to the traditional institutions and community leaders on the need to support the commission in carrying out the exercise by allowing unfettered access to facilities and places to be enumerated.

He solicited the support of the traditional rulers to sensitize the people on the essence of the pre-test exercise and solicit for their cooperation.

TodayNG