2023 CENSUS: THE JOURNEY SO FAR.(2)


By Stanley O. Nwosu.



The Trial Census also known as a dress rehearsal for the main census was conducted in July 2022 to assess the overall preparedness of the Commission to conduct the 2023 Census. This was carried out in selected LGAs and Enumeration Areas across all the States of Nigeria and the FCT. Over 13,000 personnel were recruited, trained and deployed for the exercise. 

A Trial Post Enumeration Survey (PES) was also conducted in October 2022 to determine coverage and content errors of the Trial Census. Thereafter, a retreat to review the Trial Census was organized for candid internal examination of the Commission’s efforts during the exercise, and to put the lessons learnt from the exercise in shaping the planning and implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census. Stakeholders from relevant agencies were invited to be part of the review process.

Also, in line with the digital and green nature of the 2023 Census, more than 500,000 Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) which will be used for data collection during the census, were procured, configured and stored in the Central Bank of Nigeria offices across the country. Other major items procured include; laptops, desktops, printers, UPS, power banks, generators, solar power systems, SD cards, sim cards and software applications for data collection, storage, and processing. The Commission also procured fieldwork materials such as reflective jackets, raincoats, rainboots, manuals, indelible inks, pens, pencils, chalk, memo pads, call-back cards, 1st aid boxes etc. These materials have been distributed across the Commission's offices nationwide. Due to the size, differing terrain and lack of transportation options across Nigeria, vehicles, boats and motorcycles were procured to support the conduct of the Census. NPC State and Local Government offices were renovated and equipped for effective operational activities and storage for the 2023 Census. 

Age being one of the most important variables usually canvassed during censuses, a compilation of the historical events for the 774 LGAs was carried out to aid the enumerators in the estimation of respondent's ages during the census exercise in order to ensure the collection of accurate age data. Also, the Commission in a bid to ensure that everyone is counted, identified special populations that are hard-to-reach or hard-to-count because of their profession, location or other characteristics for plans to be made for the enumerators to reach them during the census period.

The Commission has set up a well-equipped Situation Room to coordinate the information management and provide a platform to monitor and deal with developing issues around the successful conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census. A Call Centre was also established to serve as a hub of communication for information flow from and to fieldworkers, Census Management, partners, and very importantly, the public. The Commission developed an enumeration dashboard for real-time monitoring and assessing work progress in the various enumeration areas, wards, local government, states and the entire country and also the logistics dashboard for getting real-time information and tracking the movement of materials being distributed for the census exercise.

A Data Quality Management (DQM) system was set up for the 2023 Census as part of the multi-pronged approach to ensuring data quality through checks and facilitation of remedial action while data collection is still ongoing. The DQMs will monitor the dashboards, manage field applications, and interface with field functionaries on issues around data quality. A 5-tier quality assurance strategy is also being deployed for proper quality assuring the census process. In the strategy, the different layers and components of quality assurance plans are organized into five major areas, enumeration tracking dashboard, CAPI, geomonitoring, field operation monitoring and independent peer monitoring that touches on tools, methodology and processes.

The Commission adopted an e-Recruitment approach in recruiting over 850,000 ad-hoc staff for the census exercise. The adoption of the e-Recruitment strategy is to ensure the widespread of applicants all over the localities in the country, minimize bias and ascertain that all qualified Nigerians are given equal opportunity to apply and be recruited. Before the 2023 Census was postponed, the Commission had trained 62,000 facilitators across the country who were to train the supervisors and enumerators. The Commission has through the e-recruitment strategy laid the foundation for a young people database by capturing the essential information of about 2 million Nigerian youth who applied for census jobs.

To ensure inclusivity in the census process, the Commission made special arrangements for people living with disabilities to be part of the exercise. Many of them were engaged as ad-hoc staff for the census while the 2023 Census publications were transcribed into braille format to give the visually impaired persons the sense of belonging and opportunity to be part of the process. The transcription of the publications to braille was the first in history by any agency in Nigeria. It shows how inclusively considerate the Commission is to the needs of PLWDs.  

Census being the biggest peacetime activity in terms of mobilisation of resources, getting the whole Nigerians informed and involved to support and present themselves to be counted in the upcoming Census is such a herculean task. So, sensitization for the census is the biggest publicity campaign in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the Commission rose to the challenge and embarked on a nationwide advocacy and publicity drive through a variety of channels, including radio, television, print media, social media and traditional media as well as advocacy visits to critical stakeholders across the country. These stakeholders include but are not limited to the president and former presidents of Nigeria, ministers and heads of relevant agencies, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, State Governors, federal and state legislators, traditional and religious leaders, local government chairmen, security agencies, diplomatic corps, civil society organizations, youth and women groups, and the media. The Commission also organized the National and State Stakeholders Summits on the 2023 Census to create awareness and broaden the support base for the exercise as well as inaugurated and funded Census Publicity Committees at national and state levels to carry out grassroots sensitization and mobilization. Publicity materials were produced and disseminated in English and local languages while radio and television jingles and documentaries were produced and broadcast on major networks. 

The Commission also inaugurated Census Security and Logistic Committee at national and state levels to ensure the secure and smooth movement of personnel and materials during the census exercise. Also, in a bid to reduce interference and manipulation of the census results, the 37 NPC Federal Commissioners were cross-posted to different States and regions.

The only item from the census timetable remaining to be implemented before the postponement of the Census exercise was the training of the supervisors and enumerators. However, despite the postponement of the census by the Federal Government, sensitization and preparations for the upcoming Census are on course and the Commission is confident that the prospect for an accurate and reliable census appears brighter than ever. This optimism is galvanized by the fact that the present Commission has taken time to identify and deliberate on issues that bedevilled past censuses and to avoid such pitfalls through the adoption of scientific planning and modern digital technology. These new approaches will no doubt enhance the credibility of the process by eliminating the double enumeration of respondents and improving the accuracy of the census results and the acceptability of the census outcome both locally and internationally.

Given the huge investment by the previous government and the gains from building digital infrastructure and training personnel in readiness for the conduct of the 2023 Census, it will be advisable for the new administration of President Bola Tinubu to quickly fix a new date for the census exercise to be completed so, that the country will have up-to-date data for national planning and implementation of policies. Further delay in conducting the census will affect the preparatory arrangements already executed and render some data obsolete which will require being repeated at extra cost to the country. The earlier the census exercise is completed, the better for the country. 

©️ Stanley O. Nwosu, is a Political Economist, Public Affairs Analyst and the Social Media Manager of the NPC in Abuja
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email.- oluayemyk@gmail.com.



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