NPC seeks legislation for digital census

The National Population Commission has called for review of the Act establishing the commission to enable it to use technology for the conduct of the 2023 national census and tender it as evidence during court cases that may arise thereafter.

NPC chairman, Isa Kwarra, during a workshop on the legal framework for digital census yesterday in Nasarawa State, said this was necessary for the 2023 census to be credible and the result reliable and acceptable.

According to him, with the use of electronic equipment like personal digital assistants, the deployment of high-resolution satellites, geographical information systems, global positioning systems and digital maps of enumeration area, the NPC wants to operate on a firm legal foundation as it sets to deploy digital technology for the 2023 census.

“The cardinal focus of this workshop is to review and propose amendments that will among other things seek to strengthen the statutory mandate of the commission and at the same time build confidence in the census-taking process,” he said

From left: Former Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed; Chairman of Saraki’s Campaign & Advocacy Council, Prof. Hagher Iyorwuese; PDP Presidential Aspirant, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Former Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada; Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris; and State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Samuel Uhuotu during Dr. Saraki’s consultation session with PDP delegates in Lokoja, Kogi State