NOTWITHSTANDING the fact that the next head-count is still three years' away, the National Population Commission (NPC) has raised the alarm that unless Federal Government makes adequate preparation, the success of 2016 would end in fiasco.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja Monday at the retreat on population management, titled: "Effective population management for sustainable development in Nigeria," Chairman of NPC, Mr. Festus Odimegwu, said the Commission is facing challenges in meeting all conditions precedent in its preparation to the proposed road-map for the next census.
According to him, "We are currently experiencing avoidable delays and hope that all concerned will rise up to their responsibilities and sacred duties to our nation."
Odimegwu stressed that the challenges could be frustrating as the timely expectations could be prolonged, adding that all concerned should rise up and come to their aid.
He said: "My experience is that what will take probably a week to do in the organised private sector, at times runs into months in a public sector and that can be very frustrating if you are from my background. But we are following up issues and we hope that everybody involved should rise up and carry out his duty to the nation."
He also pledged that the current commission is determined to make positive change in the population management in Nigeria, adding that it is not just a policy option but also an absolute necessity in the quest for enlightened governance.
He added that this holds the key to the sustainable resolution of our current challenges and attainment of our national aspirations when integrated with the power of accurate and real time data provision, potency of evidence-based planning and execution of contractual responsibility accounting in delivering the dividend of democracy to all Nigerians.
Declaring the retreat open, Secretary to the Government of Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, who was represented by Dr. Jamila Shuara, the Permanent Secretary Special Duties, said in his address that effective management of the nation's population is not just an issue of choice but an absolute necessity.
He stressed that if Nigeria must make remarkable progress in her effort to improve the standard of living of the people, knowing the accurate population figure should be considered a great asset for current and future developments.
He also said the Federal Government is committed to improving the quality of population management and its allied matters in Nigeria, especially in the areas of census, identity management and trans-border crime control.
He noted that the conduct of the retreat is a further manifestation of the commitment of the commission to make a concerted effort towards population management.
