Gombe Census Advocacy Committee visits Balanga, Yalmatu Deba LGAs on sensitisation
On the third day of its Census advocacy, sensitisation and inauguration of Local Governments Committees, the State Advocacy, and Logistics Committee has on Wednesday visited, Talasse- Waja in Balanga Local Government Area, and Deba, and Yamaltu Emirates in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Areas meeting with Traditional Rulers and other critical stakeholders, to ensure the 2023 head count is conducted successfully in the State.
The Committee which also inaugurated Local Government Committees, emphasised that there should be no room for failure in the forthcoming National Population and Housing Census.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, who is the Chairman of the Main Committee underscored the importance of conducting a national census in the existence of every nation and society.
He explained that it was the importance the State Government attaches to the census exercise that informed the inauguration of committees at state and Local Government levels on advocacy and logistics to make sure people are adequately enlightened and all foreseen encumbrances are addressed.
He further explained, “We have failed the United Nations requirement of conducting census at every ten- year interval. It is very obvious that our population must have risen tremendously. It is expected that the population shall rise because we witness more births than deaths, and when population decreases in this circumstances it shows there is a great problem. May God forbid that.
“I call on the Traditional Rulers and every well meaning residents of the state to fully support the Census exercise by assisting the National Population adhoc staff with accommodation, feeding, and other logistics as may deemed necessary towards ensuring that no body is missed out”.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner of Justice, and Attorney-General Zubairu Mohammed Umar, highlighted the benefits of knowing the number of people living in every place, in meeting the real needs of the people.
The Commissioner who is the Deputy Chairman of the Main Committee said “the use of estimates and approximation in determining the number and needs of the people have not been quite helpful to the administrators and the economic planners neither is it to the beneficiaries of whatever services and assistance. The result is usually underestimation or, over estimation or even misplacing of priorities ending up in provision of projects that are never utilised”.
Thus the conduct of census helps in knowing actual population and their needs as well as aid proper allocation of resources which goes a long way in minimizing wastes and maximization of utilities in view of accuracy in the allocation of available resources.
” To underscore the importance of conducting a reliable accurate and acceptable census, the Governor of Gombe State, Alh. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya,( the Majen Gombe) has approved the inauguration of the State Committee under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Governor, Manassah Daniel Jatau, Ph.D. and has also directed the inauguration of Local Governments Committees to ensure that census is carried out successfully in the state.”
“The involvement of the Committees indicates the commitment of the Government to the course of the exercise. You must have been seeing the officials of the National Population Commission, and now we are here to tell you that we are solidly behind their activities. We urged you to put in every effort needed for the success of the program.”
The Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission Hon. Abubakar Mohammed Danburam, while answering questions from the audience, pleaded with the Traditional Rulers to prevail on those holding extremist views against conducting of census with a view to ensuring that everybody is counted in their domains.
He said, “the Enumeration areas are demarcated in such a way that one person will be able to finish the work in three days. where it is not possible there is a mop-up activity to enable others come in and assist in completing the work.”
Shading more light on some of the issues raised the Commissioner of Information, Hon. Meshach Audu Lauco said, the media houses will be engaged in the campaign for creating awareness and mobilizing support for successful census.
Responding to the Committee in his Palace at Tallasse, Balanga Local Government Area, the Bala Waja Alh. Muhammad Danjuma Muhammad, appreciated the Members of the Committee for the advocacy visit, and pledged to direct his District and Village Heads to mobilise all their subjects to ensure the success of the Census exercise.
In their Palaces at and Deba and Dadinkowa, all in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government, the Emir’s of Deba, Quantity Surveyor Ahmad Usman, and Yamaltu, Alh. Abubakar Ali, pledged to direct their District and Village Heads to sensitize their subjects, and ensure they comply with the directive for a very accurate and successful census.
All the Emirs expressed optimism that with Government’s involvement and commitment, and especially with the calibre of members of the state and local government Committees this census is going to be one with a difference.
They pledged to support the NPC adhoc Staff with accommodation, feeding and logistics where necessary in order to achieve the desired result.
Wilson Jonah Yakubu
Press Secretary/ Information Officer,
Deputy Governor’s Office.
