The Awaited 2017 Population Census

THE AWAITED 2017 POPULATION CENSUS

     
Undoubtedly, you will wholeheartedly agree with my person that every society or locality, regardless of size, is naturally endowed with a certain number of people referred to as its population, which increases periodically based on the birth and death rates of the society in question.

     

 Concisely, population census is defined as an official survey of the total number of persons or animals of the same specie coexisting in a given arena. Similarly, it can further be described as the summation of all the organisms of the same group that are inhabitants of a certain geographical area as well as possess the capability of interbreeding.

     The last time I painstakingly checked, in most cases or quarters, it was the human population that was mainly taken into consideration whenever it called for census, obviously because the said population remains the only mode of population that determines the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) coupled with the overall net worth of a given society or country, and I wish to state categorically that Nigeria isn’t an exception in this regard.

     Based on the United Nations’ recent estimation, Nigeria is regarded as the seven most populous country in the world with about 178, 517, 000 people as at July 1, 2014 which is equivalent to about 2.49% of the entire global population. However, currently likewise many other nations, there’s no exact figure of the country’s population owing to several challenges or constraints, and it’s pertinent to acknowledge that suchlike phenomenon negatively affects the workforce of any country involved thereby disrupting its socio-economic and political strength.

     In view of the aforesaid assertion, it’s imperative for Nigeria to take a severe measure toward ascertaining the exact number of persons that hail from the country as well as ensure that the growth of such population is adequately controlled. So, as the nation awaits her next population census, come 2017, which is usually observed at every ten years interval, the National Population Commission (NPC) is expected to leave no stone unturned towards ensuring that nothing but absolute success is recorded during the awaited exercise.

     Ceteris paribus, the census in question, which its Enumeration Areas Demarcation (EAD) is ongoing, was meant to take place this year being 2016 since the last one successfully held in 2006. This very lapse implies that either the census wasn’t properly captured in the 2015 budget by the immediate administration or that the money budgeted for the project was misappropriated by the said administration. Whichever reason that occasioned the loophole, the present government ably led by President Mohammadu Buhari ought to ensure that the aberration does not repeat itself.

     In the same vein, there’s a compelling need for rigorous awareness campaign regarding the project. I want to firmly disabuse the concerned authority of the notion that every Nigerian is currently aware of the forthcoming exercise. We must take into cognizance that not every citizen of this country, likewise other developing nations, is privileged to listen to the radio, watch television, read the newspaper/magazine, access the internet or the social media, as the case may be. In view of this, I want to notify us that at the moment, at least, about 35% of Nigerian adults are yet to be informed of the awaited 2017 population census.

     To this end, I implore the NPC to employ all the needed avenues with a view to ensuring that no citizen of the country is sidelined as regards information. They should subscribe with the various telecom firms toward issuing regular bulk SMS to the teeming Nigerians. Even at that, not everyone has access to a cell phone; thus, in addition to electronic and print media, we must involve such other means of information dissemination as street awareness, town-hall meetings, and what have you. Town hall meetings would conscientize the traditional rulers or town union leaders to engage the services of their respective town criers thereby enabling door-to-door awareness mechanism. Against this backdrop, collaborating with other relevant corporate bodies to include the National Orientation Agency (NOA), civil society groups, religious institutions, and schools, among others, would be very helpful.

     Inter alia, contrary to the De-facto method of enumeration that’s intended to be used by the NPC during the exercise, which is not unusual compared to the previously conducted ones, I strongly insist that the De-jure method of enumeration would be more reliable and accurate for the exercise. The latter, if utilized, would unarguably enable the personnel to acquire the clear picture of every citizen of the country thereby enabling the commission (NPC) to arrive at a holistic conclusion.

    
The De-facto method is the enumeration of individuals as of where they are found during the census, regardless of where they normally reside. Whilst, the De-jure method is the enumeration of individuals as of where they usually reside, regardless of where they are on the day of the census. Suffice it to say that the former involves head-count contrary to the latter which mainly involves house-count.

     The De-facto method unequivocally showcases that there’s a tangible probability or tendency of not counting every Nigerian as long as the exercise lasts. For instance, if Mr A wasn’t found at his place of residence when the census officials came around, there is also a strong possibility of not locating/finding him at other residences or institutions he is affiliated to throughout the exercise. May be when they would visit his/her home in the city, he/she would be at his/her village home, and vice-versa.

     Besides, what’s the possibility of ensuring that all Nigerians resident abroad would be available during the exercise? How can we be assured that every Nigerian in the diaspora would sacrifice whatever he/she is doing over there for the census? Even if based on their patriotic nature, they eventually wish to return home in order to be counted, how can you guarantee that they will all afford the required flight ticket? Or, are the census officials going to travel abroad to ensure that every one of them is duly counted? These, among other crucial and sensitive factors, are required to be seriously taken into consideration.

      The gospel truth remains that every Nigerian, both at home and abroad, needs to be counted because there’s a tendency that one who’s based abroad might decides to return to Nigeria the following month after the census, and thereafter becomes a permanent resident of the country. Of course, we are very much aware of the socio-economic implication of such decision especially in a situation where the person in question was not counted during the census.

    
The De-jure method, which involves house-count, would definitely ensure that every member of a given home or family irrespective of where he/she resides or is based is duly counted during the census. People shall be counted based on their respective states of origin; in other words, the houses to be visited shall be those that are owned by only the indigenes of the affected state. This approach would also enable us to acquire the exact number or statistics of persons that hail from each state of the federation. During the census, the NPC officials need to request from those present at the houses visited the documents that indicate the authenticity of the membership or citizenship of the absentees or those residing abroad, as the case may be, such as birth certificate, LGA’s certificate of origin and/or evidence of schools attended.

     At this juncture, we’re convinced that this platform (De-jure method), which is result-oriented, wouldn’t be only more accurate and reliable as indicated earlier but cost cum labour effective. In fact, there’s need for the apt authorities to extend hand of fellowship to the cognoscenti towards attaining a hitch-free and successful 2017 population census in Nigeria.

     Above all, we have been reliably informed by the NPC that only its staff would be involved in the exercise; it’s a very wonderful and welcome idea. But the commission is required to use every means to decisively warn its personnel or any concerned body to steer clear from any form of unpatriotic act including cheating and indolence while the concernment lasts.

     Most importantly, it’s obvious that the project in question is extremely capital intensive; therefore, in addition to the budgeted fund, financial assistance is required from concerned individuals, stakeholders, as well as non-governmental organizations. Hence, the commission in collaboration with other relevant agencies ought to set up a competent, formidable and reliable ad-hoc committee strictly for fund raising and other related matters. This, no doubt, would go a long way towards acquiring all the needed funds for the long-awaited wholesome project, as we look forward to seeing that Nigeria in her entirety is perpetually salvaged. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Twitter: @mediambassador 

Bizarre aextortions by Banks and Telecom Firms

BIZARRE EXTORTIONS BY BANKS AND TELECOM FIRMS

   
Aside my personal experience, I’ve in several occasions been reliably informed that quite some time now, millions of Nigerians have been subjected to an untold hardship in the hands of the various commercial banks as well as telecommunication companies situated across the federation, via instigation of unending bilious charges.

    The last time I thoroughly checked, the nauseous practice almost got out of hand that it required only a stiff measure for it to be bade an eternal farewell by its innumerable victims. I would have considered this critique as frivolous, if I were to give a listening ear to a casual and spontaneous utterance tendered by a childhood friend resident in Texas, USA; the fellow in question unequivocally asked me, albeit ignorantly, to ignore the said phenomenon since Nigerians are used to suchlike experiences.

    
The point the Texas-based Nigerian-born dude was frantically trying to make is that the ongoing anomaly, among other related ones, is peculiar to Nigeria thus not unlike a norm; I assent to the assertion. But he was ignorant of the obvious fact that not all traditions are meant to be upheld; unarguably, some lifestyles deserve to be holistically abolished without contemplation.

     Come to think of it, why would Nigeria be invariably reckoned to be a place where such uncalled and unwarranted practices are ostensibly acceptable or a step in the right direction? Rather than protecting the interests of their clients, these banks and telecom firms prefer to unleash on them villainy, as if they are mere slaves.

    
Incessant deductions often reportedly attributed to VAT, SMS alert charges, ATM service interests, monthly fees, and what have you, constantly and consistently made by the commercial banks on their clients’ accounts have become so worrisome that if left unchecked, one may wake up one morning to observe that about 95% of the total money in his/her bank account had been debited from it.

     On their part, the telecom companies would always make use of imposition mechanism to actualize their dubious motive. In most cases, their customers would be taken unawares as regards subscribing to a certain tariff or promo as if the airtime on their SIM cards weren’t purchased by them. A situation where someone would buy a #100 airtime and all the money would instantly vanish into thin air, really and absolutely calls for a public outcry.

    
The aforementioned callous and villainous attitudes of most firms operating in Nigeria, which are to say the least very appalling and thought-provoking, have become a case study to hundreds of thousands of researchers in the country. It’s indeed pertinent to acknowledge that Nigerians at large are seriously suffering in the hands of those they patronize. How would you reconcile this?

    
This lingering impunity has made many concerned stakeholders in Nigeria to insinuate that the country lacks competent and reliable regulatory bodies. Of course, in a situation like this, embracing such speculation wouldn’t be far-fetched. We are all aware that each commercial bank and telecom firm in this nation is answerable to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) respectively, as well as the Consumers’ Protection Council (CPC). But what the people aren’t aware is if the said relationship is really being upheld.

    
The other day I overheard an official of the CPC who played guest on a particular radio programme, saying that the major problem with Nigerians was inability to report to appropriate authorities whenever they are aggrieved or witch-hunted. Consequently, via a phone call, I retaliated by asking her (the official) why they would always wait for the public or consumers to lay a complaint before they take action, even in a situation where the commission or any of its members happened to be one of the victims/sufferers of the ordeal, or when the unbearable circumstance is very glaring.

     So, if a police officer, for instance, happens to be in a commercial bus and therein one of the passengers is accused of theft or was caught stealing, the said security personnel instead of arresting the accused person or doing the needful headlong would expect other passengers in the bus to come over to the police station to lay a complaint before he would take the action expected of him? I’m just thinking aloud, but every sane individual needs to think about it.

     It’s high time we awoke from our respective slumbers with a view to living up to the expectation. Any firm or person accused of any foul play or punishable offence ought to be brought to book by collective effort of the apt authorities having acquired the needed evidence for the prosecution. For crying out very loud, the consumers cannot continually be treated like nobody by these legitimate consortiums. Think about it!

·         Comr Nwaozor - Researcher, Blogger, Analyst and Activist, is the Founder, Fred Nwaozor Foundation (FRENOF) based in Owerri.

Appointment of a 'Layman' as Health Commissioner

APPOINTMENT OF A ‘LAYMAN’ AS COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH

   
Few months ago when Gov Okorocha unveiled the portfolios for the Imo State Commissioners designate, several criticisms greeted the governor’s choice of assigning the state’s ‘almighty’ Ministry of Health to a ‘layman’, particularly from the teeming members of the state’s branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). And till date, many Imolites are still aggrieved over the reportedly unfortunate circumstance.

    Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have bothered coming up with this critique but having understood that suchlike scenario, if not properly addressed, is tantamount to creating an unquantifiable lapse between the government and the governed thereby constituting fathomless upheaval in the state, I thought it wise that it was time I quit acting like a mere onlooker.

     When the news of the said incident got to my humble desk on that fateful day, as an ardent civil rights and constitution activist, the first thing I hastily did was to revisit my copy of the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, as amended, with a view to re-digesting its sections that highlight the appointment of federal Ministers or state Commissioners as the case may be as well as other appointments as stipulated therein, precisely sections 147 and 192 respectively.

   
The last time I recalled, no part or subsection of the sections in question mandated the governors or the President to appoint only a health/medical personnel as a Commissioner for Health or Minister of Health respectively as the case may be. Rather, regarding fairness and equity, what the constitution mandates the aforementioned Chief Executive Officers to do at all times is to ensure that such appointments are in conformity with the diversity of the people within their respective areas of authority.

     The above fact or directive definitely implies that the appointment of a medical practitioner as a Health Commissioner or Minister, which has seemingly been a tradition ab initio, is solely based on the choice of the governor or the President, as the case may be. In other words, the governor or the President is meant to decide whom among the nominees is fit to wear the shoes.

    
Even though such decision is the governor’s prerogative, it’s pertinent to acknowledge that a very sensitive and critical ministry like health is obviously expected to be manned by a well experienced and passionate individual. Now, in this case, since the person whom was considered fit by the governor to wear the shoes is apparently a layman in the health profession, what every concerned citizen was objectively meant to do, rather than wailing, is to crosscheck or consider the antecedents of the appointee.

     It would interest us to note that the Imo Commissioner of Health, Women Affairs and Social Development in the person of Mrs Ngozi Njoku who is a lawyer by profession, is the immediate past boss of the renowned Imo Foundation – a state owned body that majors in rendering succor to the physically and medically challenged persons in Imo State, instituted by the Gov Rochas Okorocha led administration.

   
This no doubt significantly indicates that the Commissioner in question deserves some credit when it calls for health matters or issues relating to health. I’m of the view that this might be one of the reasons that urged the governor to consider her worthy for the said ministry. Please, I’m not in any way trying to sound biased here, which is far-fetched as regards my person; rather, I’m only appraising facts.

     Besides, what’s essence of a political office holder appointing a Special Adviser (SA) or Personal Assistant (PA)? These appointees – SAs and PAs, whom function as the arms of the public officer, enable him/her to operate effectively and efficiently in every field of human endeavour. Believe me, if not for the work of these SAs or PAs, no human on this planet earth would be qualified to be the governor of a state or the President of a country. There’s no need going into detail since a word is unarguably enough for the wise.

     What the Commissioner or the Minister does is to super head; suffice it to say that he/she is meant to delegate and thereafter supervise. Hence, in any setting, those who do the actual work are the Special Advisers or Assistants; read my lips. This is the reason every political office occupant must be very careful and vigilant while appointing his/her SAs, PAs, SSAs, et al. Competence and reliability are the key words whenever it calls for such appointments or recognitions.

    
Another crucial factor we ought to take into cognizance is that being a marketer, for instance, doesn’t imply that the person isn’t qualify to handle cases concerning sciences, or engineering in particular. Though both aforesaid fields (Marketing and Sciences) have no meeting point, but we must note that beyond one’s basic profession, he/she can go an extra mile to know what’s happening in other professions, maybe owing to passion, potential skill, talent, family background, or what have you.

     I often use myself as a good example whenever such issue is discussed. It would fascinate you to realize that my primary discipline is engineering technology, but today I am practising literature to the core due to talent and passion. Of course, Fred Doc Nwaozor is a prolific novelist, playwright and poet by God’s grace; on the contrary, he bagged Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Physics/Electronics Tech from the prestigious Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), coupled with other professional honours in Engineering thereafter. It would further interest us to note that currently Comr Fred Nwaozor is concurrently practising both Arts and Sciences, which of course are like two parallel lines. Yes, it sounds paradoxical, but it’s real. The rest is history.

     At this juncture, I urge every aggrieved party as regards the choice made by the Imo governor to swallow their grievances towards creating a perpetual cordial relationship between them and the government for the interest of Imo at large. Mind you; I’m on the neutral line and here shall I remain because I can’t attempt to disappoint He who sent me.

     However, as much as the amiable governor might have a tangible reason for appointing the so-called layman as Commissioner for Health, I’m also appealing to his Excellency to always find reasonable time to address his teeming subjects whenever they misunderstand or sense intimidated over any step taken by his noble office. After all, he’s answerable to them. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Twitter: @mediambassador