Alhaji Muttaka Rini, Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission (NPC) in Zamfara, said digitalizing the 2023 population and housing census would ensure transparency and accountability in the exercise.
Rini, who stated this while speaking with newsmen in Gusau on Monday, noted that the digital census would ensure accurate and credible data.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state’s NPC office on Sunday trained 75 Jumu’at Mosque Imams on sensitization and enlightenment for the 2023 population and housing census.
“You know, in the previous census, we used paper and pen.
“But the digital census would generate the actual data required for citizens, irrespective of their locations.
“Digitalising the process would ensure transparency and accountability in the census”, he said.
He noted that one of the responsibilities of the commission was to partner and seek support and cooperation from stakeholders to ensure the success of the exercise in the state.
“Parts of the commission’s measures to ensure the success of the exercise in the state was the engagement of all stakeholders, including the traditional and religious leaders, media practitioners, and Islamic scholars.
“Partnering with the Ulama and Imams became necessary considering their role in enlightening and sensitizing members of the general public.
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“They have greater roles to play in promoting citizens' participation in the exercise,” he added.
“Just yesterday, we trained 75 Juma’at Mosque Imams in partnership with the state Council of Ulama on how to sensitize the general public to the 2023 population and housing census.”
“We selected 75 participants of the training across the 14 local government areas of the state.
“Five Imams were selected across each of the 13 local government areas of the state while Gusau was given 10 Imams,” he explained.
He called on the people of the state, especially the stakeholders, to support the commission to ensure a successful census in the state.
“As we all know, the census is very critical to national development.
“The population and housing census does not limit to sharing of resources only.
“The census data is used to determine every sector of human development in the areas of the economy, housing, health, education, employment, and unemployment.”
