In today’s update on the National Population Commission (NPC) recruitment training of Ad hoc census staff, the Commission is still struggling with a shortage of fund and other issues. From the look of things, the 2023 National Population and Housing Census may be postponed.
Please be informed that the Commission, in order to address the challenges it is facing, has postponed indefinitely the training of 623,797 enumerators and 125,944 supervisors who will participate in the 2023 Census.
It is important to note that the 2023 population and housing census will cost the federal government about N869 billion, according to a report by the Punch news. However, the government has only set aside N291.5 billion for the project, therefore; it needs an extra N327 billion.
It appears that both the government and the NPC have trouble with raising fund for the 2023 census. As a result, there is a problem with some administrators and professionals who have not yet received their payments.
Recall that about 467 Special Ad hoc employees in Bauchi state of took to the streets last week to protest over the nonpayment of their allowances.
The three types of allowances that must be granted to NPC Ad hoc staff are listed in a document signed by the Director of the Census Department, Mrs. Evelyn Arinola Olanipekun. The allowances are:
- Food allowance
- Transportation allowance
- Training allowance
According to Olanipekun, special forces and facilitators will also receive the same allowances.
1. Feeding Allowance
(a) For Specialized Workforce is N2,000 per day multiplied by 13 days is N26,000 in total.
(b) For State teachers: N2,000 per person per day x 10 days. Total is N20,000.
2. Transportation allowance is N20,000 per person
3. Training
(a) Trainer: N15,000 per day x 13.
(b) Trainee: N10,000 per day x 13.
- Double payment will be made for all categories as follows:
Transport and feeding: N46,000 (SWF), N40,000 (State Administrators).
If the funds needed for the training of enumerators and supervisors are not released, and such funds cannot cover the cost of the work done by the ad hoc staff, it will be difficult to have successful census in 2023.