Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
The Exercise Will Be Transparent, It Is Open To All – Fed. Comm
By Inemesit Amos
It is true that the 2023 Population and Housing Census is holding in April, 2023 as graciously approved by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari after sixteen years of waiting for approval. Since then the commission saddled with the responsibility of conducting a credible, reliable and accepted census, the National Population Commission in Akwa Ibom State led by astute administrators, Chief (Engr.) Benedict Ukpong (Okete Okete Oro), the Federal Commissioner and the Akwa Ibom State Director, National Population Commission, Mr. Emmanuel Edem have been working round the clock to ensure an all-round success of the exercise.
As part of its effort to ensure a smooth conduct of the exercise, the commission has launched an e-recruitment portal to recruit Adhoc staff. Speaking in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Akwa Ibom State, Chief (Engr.) Benedict Ukpong (Okete Okete Oro) while briefing the press announced the official launching of the portal in the state poured encomiums on President Buhari and the Chairman of the Commission, Nasir Isa Kwarra for their commitment towards the exercise.
“I wish to start by conveying profound gratitude to Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, the Chairman of National Population Commission to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari and Commander in Chief of the Arm Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his Support for the preparatory activities of the commission toward the successful conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census. Let me appreciate the state Governor, Traditional Rulers, Local Government Chairmen and other Stakeholders for their partnership and collaboration even as I solicit for a more robust support in the forthcoming 2023 Population and Housing Census”.
The Commissioner spelled out the categories of Adhoc staffers needed and work specifications, “I am happy to inform the stakeholders of Akwa Ibom State that the Commission will, through the online recruitment process request for applicants from the following categories of field staff that will be needed to execute the next Census: a) Facilitators b) Training Centre Administrators c) Monitoring & Evaluations Officers d) Data Quality Managers e) Data Quality Assistants 1) Supervisors and 9) Enumerators. It is pertinent to note that the number of functionaries to be recruited in each category will depend on the number of available vacancies in each LGA which will be derived largely from the total number of Enumeration Areas (EAS) in the State. To ensure fair, efficient and transparent recruitment, the commission will work with the existing team in the State and constitute a Local Government Area Recruitment Team (LRRT) which will comprise 3 persons; a) The Comptrollers (Chairperson), b) One NPC staff who has NPC file number (as Desk officer/Secretariat), C) Local Government Officials. This will be done in all the 31 LGAS of Akwa Ibom State. The State Recruitment Review Team (SRRT), who are already profiled, are to train the Local Government Area Recruitment Team (LRRT) in conjunction with officers that will be sent from the headquarters. The Local Government Recruitment Team will work to ensure that prospective applicants in hard-to-reach areas, difficult terrains and areas with no network coverage have the opportunity to apply to serve as census functionaries and are appropriately accommodated on the recruitment portal. Also, Headquarters Recruitment Team (HRT) in conjunction with State Recruitment Review Team (SRRT) will train the Local Government Area Recruitment Team and monitor the recruitment exercise in the LGAS. The Commission in the State assures that the advertisement requesting for application will be placed in print and electronic media, as well as the Commission’s dedicated website and social media platforms. To us in the Commission, the quality of staff that will perform the census activities are very important. Therefore, having good knowledge of the content of the census document, the technique and the organization of the census process is key to the success of the 2023 Population and Housing Census in Akwa Ibom State”.
He reiterated the essence of the online recruitment exercise, “In this light, therefore, launching of the online E-recruitment portal for the 2023 census at the state headquarters marks the beginning of the online recruitment process whereby indigenes from all demography and gender can hook on to the website that is provided by the Commission to fill the online form and get themselves registered to be recruited. Let me use this opportunity to assure the good people of Akwa Ibom State and all the stakeholders that the bulk of personnel for the 2023 Census will be drawn from the communities where they are residents. This will remove the huge logistics of moving personnel across the state. Consequently, every community will have the opportunity to contribute to the census workforce, ensuring that the people are adequately counted”.
While launching the portal, he further called on the State Governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and other stakeholders to show more commitment in supporting the Commission to achieve its goals, “I want to use this occasion to promise the stakeholders of our dear State that the Commission is on course and will continue to be fair and transparent as we approach the 2023 Population and Housing Census. May emphasis that Census exercise is a serious National project and Akwa Ibom State cannot succeed without adequate partnership and collaboration. Let me once again call on His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Traditional Rulers, Local Government Chairmen, Civil Society groups and the general public to come together and support the National Population Commission to achieve an accurate, reliable and acceptable Census. It is on this note that I formally launch the 2023 Population and Housing Census E-recruitment Portal to the success of the 2023 Population and Housing Census. You Count. Be Counted Thank you for your attention”.
Special features at the event included a welcome address by the State Director, National Population Commission, Mr. Emmanuel Edem; goodwill messages from the National Orientation Agency and Federal Ministry of Information and the official launching of the portal. Those that are interested should CLICK ON THIS LINK.
