…Praises the National Planning Commission on the Technology-driven Census
In order to ensure accountability, the Commission should receive a vote of confidence.
…Says Buhari Finishing Strong
Supports the establishment of an Adequate Funds Commission.
On Monday, leading pro-democracy civil society organizations met in Abuja to assess the level of readiness of the National Population Commission and Nigerians for the upcoming population census exercise, which was provisionally scheduled to take place this year.
“Rev. Solomon Semaka, a human rights activist and convener of the Save Nigeria Movement (SNM), while briefing the media noted the commitment of the National Population Commission to a highly successful census exercise driven almost 100% by technology and supported by the most advanced census tools and equipment. The group was reacting to calls by some sponsored elements to mobilize.
Our independent findings reveal that this is exactly what the commission has followed, which has earned her the confidence of Mr. President and Nigerians so far. ” The commission is empowered under the law to organize, manage, and conduct census and head count including with choice of dates once the commission gets the node of the president ” ” Our findings reveal that this is exactly what the commission has followed, which has earned her the confidence of Mr. President and Nigerians so far.”
More and more Nigerians are becoming aware that the census is long overdue according to the standards of the United Nations, and there is no doubt that the current leadership of the National Population Commission has consistently demonstrated their commitment to ensuring that the long overdue census is carried out and completed within record time “in order for Mr. President to have a healthy and successful conclusion.
“Despite the push by the commission led by Isa Kwarra to have this very important national exercise, it looks like there are a lot of factors involved in the delay.”
According to the findings, the organization identified some of these challenges as including funding, a lack of security, and the general elections in 2023.”
“”the application of funds, choice of template, guidelines and the dates as well as everything involved in the conduct of National population excercise is the sole responsibility of the commission.” Just as the management of elections is solely in the hands of INEC, so too is the power to conduct the census. “the sole responsibility of the commission is the conduct of National population exercise.”
“As leading frontline pro-democracy groups that have been involved in monitoring governance at the highest levels,” the authors write, “we appreciate the commission for the proactive efforts and for her effective and transparent utilization of limited resources, which in all honesty are not enough for the exercise.”
“We must commend the ingenuity of the Isa Kwarra led commission for judicious application of little funds available for the purpose of the forthcoming census,” the group said. It was shocked but impressed with how much the commission has achieved with staggered approvals and urged it to maintain the tempo. “We must commend the ingenuity of the Isa Kwarra led commission for judicious application of little funds available for the purpose of the forthcoming census,” the group said.
Also reacting to media insinuations that there was a deliberate plot to postpone the upcoming census in order to frustrate the process, describe such allegations as laughable and knee jerk activism, insisting that such thinking stands logic on its head, and say that such thinking is illogical.”
“How is it that the same commission that has struggled for years to get attention to perform her statutory roles despite being completely ignored can all of a sudden put deliberate roadblocks in its own path when it has finally managed to get the support of Mr. President? Rev Semaka queried. This doesn’t make any sense at all.
“Is this not the same commission that coordinated efforts to garner international support in the form of donations and technical assistance to ensure the success of the upcoming census? It makes absolutely no sense to reverse course and place blame on the same people who, in a record amount of time, were successful in persuading the President to sanction the very significant activity.”
The organization insisted that the census is more important than the elections, and it urged Nigerians to treat it with the seriousness that it warrants and to avoid the divisive and retrogressive tactics of fifth columnists.”
Our findings indicate that the commission led by Alh Isa Kwarra has received assurances from the president to support this very important exercise before the administration winds up. Without an accurate census, true development will continue to be a mirage, and our findings indicate that the president will support this exercise before the administration winds up.
Further justifying the need for the postponement of the census that was originally scheduled for this March and April, the groups insisted that the postponement in the general elections made it imminent for the commission to readjust given the importance it placed on the outcome of the census exercise” and we commend the commission for her flexibility, ingenuity, and swift actions to protect the integrity of the census process” Further justifying the need for the postponement of the census that was initially scheduled for this March and April, the groups insisted that
Another response to the news that the census might be delayed was given by the Conference of Harmonized Civil Society Organizations (CHSCO). They said that the commission was well within its rights and powers, and that it had demonstrated its capacity beyond any shadow of a doubt. As a result, they moved a motion for a vote of confidence in the commission, praising it for implementing an excellent agenda that was in line with the desire of Mr. President and the wishes of Nigerians to be counted. The postponement”
The organizations have stated collectively, as a sign of their support for the success of the census, that they are satisfied so far with the stakeholder engagements and preparations that have been pioneered across the country and beyond to ensure a reliable and successful census exercise.”
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“Accordingly, we urge the people of Nigeria to demonstrate and maintain their moral support for the president and the commission in order for things to end well and with no distractions for the future of Nigeria.”
“No matter what people say, there is no stakeholder engagement by the commission that does not seek the opinions of everyone, including traditional institutions as well as labor unions and student groups. This is the case regardless of what people say. I can guarantee that every decision that is made by the commission is done so after conducting a comprehensive amount of research and discussion under the direction of Isa Kwarra, who is leading the commission. “Proceed to check it out! Go and find out the level of stakeholder involvement, including that of the civil society, in this census exercise that we are talking about; I do not know where the commission has gone wrong.” According to the statement, Nigerians should simply keep their attention fixed on the future.
While praising the Minister of National Planning, Mr. Jeddy Agba, as well as the President, the group argued for the prompt release of budgeted funding in order to avoid unneeded pressure, confrontation, and blackmail from nameless organizations and their enablers “Because of this, the end of the federal government will go according to plan.
“The preparations for the forthcoming census, from all indications, are by far the most reliable and transparent, driven entirely by technology tools, and it is the single most important exercise for Nigeria and Nigerians,”
” The group further commended the international community, particularly UNPFA and others who have confirmed their satisfaction in the preparedness of the commission so far at various fora of consultations. ”
The CSOs have also stated that they will continue to distribute informative and educational literature about the upcoming census to ordinary Nigerians and market women artisans. This is being done in order to prevent unnecessary misinformation and sensitization of the national exercise.