Census 2023: Over 70,000 Apply For Ad-Hoc Jobs In Nasarawa

Over 70,000 persons have reportedly applied for ad-hoc jobs for this year's Population and Housing Census scheduled to hold from May 3 to May 7, 2023, in Nasarawa State.

The Commissioner representing Nasarawa State at National Population Commission (NPC), Silas Ali Agara, disclosed this, Tuesday in Akwanga, during a live radio programme.

Out of the over 70,000 applicants, Agara said only 15,000 ad-hoc staff will be engaged to work as supervisors and enumerators during head count and house census in the state. 

“In Karu local government area, a total of 18,000 applicants applied and all we needed was 4000.

"In Lafia local government area of the state, 11,900 applied, but only 3,000 is needed.

"In Akwanga, 6600 applied, but only 509 is needed for the job,” he revealed. 

Agara, who disclosed that some applications are still hanging because limited persons are needed for the jobs, appealed to applicants to be patient as according to him not everyone will be accommodated.

The NPC Commissioner further disclosed that due to desperation of some applicants, over 7,000 were defrauded by fake approvals on the internet, as such he appealed to applicants to be careful.

On the speculation that religion or ethnicity was added to the questionnaires, Agara, said such was not part of the questions, rather the commission want to ascertain the number of individuals and buildings to help government project and planned for years ahead.

On Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and individuals seeking to travel back to their states of origin for capturing during the census, Agara said the system has been programmed in such a way that the number would be added to the state where you work.

He thanked the State Government, security agencies and the media, for their contributions towards a successful population and housing census in the State.