Gombe State government has flagged off the inauguration of local government committees on advocacy and logistics to ensure a hitch-free and successful 2023 National Population and Housing Census.
The inauguration was performed by the State deputy governor, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, who is also the chairman, State Committee on Advocacy and logistics, 2023 National Population and Housing Census.
The exercise started at Nafada Emir’s Palace followed by Bajoga in Funakaye local government area, and Mallam Sidi in Kwami LGA.
Inaugurating the committees, the deputy governor charged them to bring to bear their wealth of wisdom and experience in handling the responsibility bestowed on them towards ensuring a successful head count.
He said, ” Census provides the needed data and statistics needed for determining where, what and how much resources to be allocated. When statistics are available, planning for the population is made easier”.
“Apart from helping the government in local planning, it is also a universal requirement as contained in the United Nations Convention that census should be conducted every ten years. Considering this rule, it has become long overdue in Nigeria having had the last census in 2006, making it far more than ten years.
“Now that we are about to conduct the census, I implore you to contribute immensely to ensure everybody is counted. I call on everybody to see himself or herself as a Committee member, to enlighten the people and encourage them to participate fully where necessary for the success of the exercise.
“We have interfaced with other tribes and community leaders resident in Gombe to encourage their members to, not travel to their places of origin since they benefit in resources meant for Gombe State. This is because, their return to Gombe State( after the Census) where they were not counted, would lead to overstretching of the facilities in the state’.
“Census is very important because it assists administrators, governments in planning very well for the people within various domains. Therefore, the Census is conducted where you stay most of your life and work.
“Its importance is quite beyond our Local Governments, States, Nation because United Nations is very much concerned about the population of each Nation.We are therefore expected to ensure a reliable, credible, acceptable and successful Census is conducted to help in the planning for the betterment of the residents in Gombe State”.
In his remarks the State commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Hon. Zubairu Umar who is also the Deputy Chairman of the committee stressed the need for all well meaning people of the state to ensure Gombe State is not left behind in the 2023 National Population Census.
He explained that the census is purely for national planning and for determining resource allocation devoid of religious tribal or political sentiments.
He enjoined the traditional rulers and the Committee Members to work assidously and in harmony so that the aim of arriving at an acceptable census figures is achieved.
“The State Government priotizes the national census exercise as it’s importance cannot be overemphasised. The data helps in determining the provision of health care facilities, schools and educational development, roads and other infrastructural facilities. It is also a determinant of how much monthly allocation is given to a state and local government. Therefore it behoves on all and sundry to ensure that the population is counted,” he stated.
Answering some questions from the audience in all of the palaces visited, the federal comissioner National Population Commission, Hon. Abubakar Mohammed Danburam said, their is no any column for religion or tribe and it was a deliberate effort to avoid unnecessary crisis especially that the figures are purposely to determine resource allocation.
He said within the three days of the census there is going to be a total lock- down to avoid double counting or non counting of the people.
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