The National Population Commission (NPC) in Bayelsa state has commenced trial census in Twon in Brass Local Government Area.
At the flag-off ceremony, the Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission in Bayelsa state, Mrs. Gloria Izunfuo said that a trial census entails the complete enumeration of the people and structure within some selected parts of the country before the actual census exercise when the entire country would be enumerated.
She explained that trial census enables NPC to test and validate the various processes of the 2023 census methodology such as the training manual for field functionaries, the census application software, the census questionnaire as well as the data collection method, computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) method, data processing and data analysis.
Izonfuo disclosed that one Local Government Area in each of the six geo-political zones of the country was selected for complete enumeration of persons and structures, adding that Brass because of its peculiar terrain was selected for complete enumeration in the South-South zone.
The Federal Commissioner stated that NPC has resolved to make the 2023 population and housing census a fully digital census, hence e-recruitment was adopted and interested applicants were required to apply online through the link provided, adding that over 700 enumerators have been recruited for the exercise.
“The recruitment is geo-fenced to Brass Local Government Area which means that only persons within Brass LGA could access the application site for registration as successful applicants of the e-recruitment process are to be extensively trained for 10 to 12 days to equip them with the wherewithal to effectively carry out building numbering , household listing and enumerating using the CAPI method on personal Digital Assistants (PDAs),” She added.
Izonfuo equally stated that at the end of the training which is the third level of training for trial census, enumerators would be deployed to all the localities within Brass Local Government Area including fishing camps, as a pair of enumerators would be assigned an Enumeration Area(EA).
She said that optimal sensitization of the populace in Brass Local Government Area, advocating and publicity would be extensively carried out during the various stages of trial census, training sessions, fieldwork, and post enumeration, adding that these are the first set of digital enumerators to go on a trial census.
She appreciated the contribution of all partners, the academia, the security agencies, civil society organizations, the media and donor agencies who are working to support the commission to deliver a credible, acceptable and reliable census.
Izonfuo thanked the Bayelsa State Government, the Bayelsa state trial census management team and stakeholders in Brass local government area, the Chairman of Brass local government council, traditional rulers and community Development Committee for their efforts to ensure that the exercise is successful.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of Brass local government area, Mr. Victor Isaiah said that Brass terrain was unique as census is a platform to map out development in the country, adding that great knowledge and expertise is required for the trial census.
He argued that the geographical location of the area does not mean that the population of the area is less in size, adding that people should debunk the idea that the riverine nature of the area had made it to be less populated in number. Isaiah stated that the trial census required great knowledge and expertise as he charged the commission and the enumerators to be dedicated throughout the exercise.
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