Conducting reliable, acceptable census our priority – NPC Chairman

National Population Commission (NPC) has restated its commitment to conducting accurate, reliable and acceptable census that will be used for development planning and interventions.

NPC Executive Chairman, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, stated this in Gombe on Wednesday during the inauguration of an 18- member Census Publicity Committee for the 2023 Population and Housing Census in the state.

Isa-Kwarra said that the 2023 census was aimed at producing not only accurate, reliable and acceptable census data but also, generating an inclusive and user-friendly data for developmental planning purposes.

He said that it was in view of this the commission was deploying full digital technology in the conduct of the exercise.

The NPC chairman said that the commission was carrying out methodology and quality preparations in view of the need to have census results whose data would meet international best standards.

Isa-Kwarra, represented by NPC Federal Commissioner in the state, Mr Abubakar Danburam, said that the commission would mobilise critical stakeholders in the state to support efforts geared toward the successful conduct of the census.

“I wish to use this opportunity to reassure my fellow countrymen and women and the international community that NPC is irrevocably committed to ensuring that everything about the 2023 census is done rightly and professionally.

“We have the clear vision, commitment and capacity to deliver on this historic mandate,” he said.

The NPC boss urged members of the newly-inaugurated publicity committee to do their best in enlightening members of the public on the processes and methodology for the conduct of the census.

NPC Director in the state, Mr Jude Maigari, appealed to the state, local governments, traditional, community and religious leaders to support the committee and the commission’s efforts toward conducting an error-free exercise.

Inaugurating the committee, the state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr Meshack Lauco, said that the conduct of the 2023 census was a national assignment that needed collective efforts to accomplish.

Lauco, who is also the chairman of the committee and who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Ibrahim Sulaiman, tasked members to be professional in carrying out their duties. (NAN)