Ahead of the proposed 2023 census, the National Population Commission (NPC) has officially launched an electronic recruitment portal to engage qualified Nigerians as ad hoc staff.
The electronic portal has undergone both pre-test and trial phases to ensure accessibility and success of the recruitment process.
According to the Census Manager, Inuwa Jalingo, several places which need to be filled include facilitators, training centre administrators, monitoring & evaluation officers, data quality managers, data quality assistants, supervisors, enumerators, and special work force.
Jalingo noted that the recruitment exercise is designed to be transparent, give equal opportunity, and minimise bias.
Also speaking at the launching of the portal in Abuja, the Chairman, National Population Commission, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, underscored the need to have the best hand for the 2023 census.
The Census Manager further stated that the commission is expected to receive more than 25 million applications for the available job positions. He emphasised that the process needs to be competitive and credible.
Investors King understands that the last census held in Nigeria was conducted in 2006.
A representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who was also at the event Mrs. Ann Aderibigbe, lauded the e-recruitment portal.
She noted that the digital application incorporated into the process will enhance accuracy.
Meanwhile, NPC has stated that prospective ad hoc staff to be engaged for the 2023 census must have a valid National Identification Number (NIN), a functional Gmail account, and must be able to know how to operate a smartphone, computer, and tablet.
In addition, prospective applicants must have a commercial bank account, a functional phone number and must have a minimum educational certificate of secondary school diploma up to doctoral degree depending on the position applied for.
It would be recalled that a sum of N177.33 billion was approved for the 2023 census. The census which is coming 16 years after the last one is expected to estimate both population and housing in Nigeria.
According to the 2006 census, Kano had the highest population of 9.4 million persons followed by Lagos State with 9.1 million persons.
However, a lot of changed since then and it is expected that the numbers across states would have risen astronomically.