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… Set To Intensify Public Awareness
The Bayelsa State Government yesterday made an appraisal and review of preparations in the state towards the national population census scheduled to hold nationwide next month.
To this end National Wire gathered that the state Government has also put in place plans to intensify public awareness of the forthcoming census through radio jingles, printing of posters, banners and flyers to be distributed to all towns and communities spread across the eight local government areas.
The State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, disclosed this while briefing the heads of local government, and the chairmen and secretaries of the census committees set up at the local government level, at a meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
He explained that so much work was urgently needed to be done, in order to create the necessary awareness amongst the Bayelsa populace concerning the 2023 census exercise, noting that the state government was ready to do everything necessary for the smooth conduct and success of the population head count by the National Population Commission (NPC).
Ewhrudjakpo, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders to give maximum cooperation to the Commission before, during and after the crucial national assignment.
This was just as he assured the state Director of the NPC and the local government coordinators that government would provide logistics to ease movement of personnel and materials across the state, while the local government councils would provide accommodation for equipment.
He said: “In terms of commitment, willingness and determination, the state government is ready. The state government will work closely with the National Population Commission (NPC) to achieve success in the exercise.
“I think the state has done what is needed to be done. All our communities have formed their census committees, so we are fully prepared for it.
“The NPC will make its jingle for the exercise available to be aired. We will also develop jingles to meet our local needs, and print posters and flyers and start posting them across the state.”
Earlier in her remarks, the State Director of the National Population Commission, Mrs. Evelyn Micah, expressed gratitude to the State Government for its support and preparedness to make the census a huge success in Bayelsa.
She pointed out that 2023 national digital census was strategically important to the nation, saying the most vital thing needed at the moment was publicity to create adequate public awareness, especially in the rural areas.
The NPC Director also stressed the need for the provision of logistics to motivate ad hoc staff, and engagement of guides in the various communities to accompany the enumerators to move from point to point.
Briefings on the level of recruitment and training of ad-hoc staff for the census across the eight local governments were also given at the meeting by the local government coordinators.
