We will use locals for 2023 census – NPC

The National Population Commission (NPC) has said the 1million staff to be recruited for the 2023 census would be locals who are to conduct the exercise in their localities.

The chairman of the commission, Nasir Isah Kwarra, who made the disclosure during his investiture by the National Statistical Association (NSA) in Abuja, said this was part of security measures to ensure their safety as they would know their environment better.

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“As part of efforts to reduce the logistics challenge of the census but also to ensure the security and welfare of the ad hoc staff, recruitment of functionaries has always been localised. In other words, the field staff are recruited from the communities and deployed accordingly. Technically, compliance with the localised recruitment policy is enforced through the geo fencing of the recruitment portal in which applicants can only apply in places where they are resident,” he said.

In a paper presentation on the commission’s preparedness for the 2023 census, he admitted that the spate of insecurity had affected its preparations but assured of the success of the exercise.

He said that since the commission started its preparation, security challenges prevented it from enumerating two local governments out of the 774 in the country.