Gombe traditional institution commits to successful census
Chima Azubuike
Ahead of April 2023 population and housing census in Nigeria, Emir of Gombe Alhaji Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar III has expressed the commitment of traditional institution to support a smooth and transparent digital headcount.
Shehu-Abubakar who doubles as chairman Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs made this disclosure during the inauguration of members of the Gombe State Census Publicity Committee.
He lamented the challenges of faced by citizens to government inability to know the actual population of country men and women, adding that for development to thrive accurate statistics were important.
Shehu-Abubakar, who was represented by Dr Sani Jauro said, “If you don’t know the number you are planning for, you are planning to fail all of us are aware of this. The primary tool, information for planning is the number of the various persons, classes you have in a society you have to know them to plan. Census took place 17 years ago that is why we are having alot of problems.
“I’m very happy that the National Population Commission is taking the bull by the horns to do digital census. Even the previous manual census was marred by alot of infractions if there are infractions with the purpose of profiteering in whatever way then the whole process is a failure
While assuring of the support of traditional institution, the Emir said the council would collaborate with the NPC towards seamless headcount.
“The traditional institution will support this process, the success of the census is the success of the institution, the Nation and it going to support it in all its ramification. we will continue to pray that it becomes successful,” Shehu-Abubakar added.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Information and Culture Meshack Lauco, who was represented by Ibrahim Sulaiman lauded the NPC for it patriotism adding that accurate figures were imperative to development.
The Commissioner who was made the Chairman of the committee alongside 17 others assured that they would sensitise the people, mobilise support, “towards ensuring credible census in the state.”
Also speaking, Federal Commissioner of NPC Mohammed Danburam said the vision was not only to conduct accurate, reliable and acceptable census data, “but also an inclusive and user-friendly data that would be used by all segments of the society for development planning and critical programme interventions,” he added.
