Functionaries for the 2023 National Population and Housing Census in Lagos State have taken their oath of office. These set of people have passed through the three stages of training and would in turn train others in the local government areas.
The three stages are Self-Learning, where participants were allowed to download all instructional materials and read for early assimilation; Virtual Class Simulation and Teaching, where participants were distributed into virtual classes with lecturers who monitor and control studies; and Contact Level Training where participants are invited into classrooms.
The oath taking ceremony held yesterday at the Gbaja Boys Senior High School, Surulere.
Federal Commissioner representing Lagos, Abimbola Salehu-Hundeyin, described the oath as a ‘confidentiality clause’ which ensures that ad hoc workers do not disclose people’s information carelessly. According to her, there will be about 50,000 ad hoc workers to cater for Lagos alone, and she was certain of a good outcome.
She added: “These people have been exposed to a lot of information during their training and they should not disclose it anyhow, this is why the confidentiality clause has to come in. They must keep everything they see here to themselves, unless they are permitted to say it out. It will also give the public confidence that whatever they tell us is safe. These set of people are the trainees who will train other people before the main census. They will also work with the local government and step down the training they have received here.
“We however appeal to Lagos residents to please cooperate with us so that we can get it right. Lagos has the population, so all we need is to ensure accurate data. If the people cooperate with us and remain in Lagos where they all live normally, instead of travelling, I am sure Lagos will have its rightful data captured.”
Southwest zonal training coordinator (state level) Samson Olanipekun hailed the exercise, saying ‘it shows people are committed and prepared to put forth their best for the census 2023’. “I’ve gone around all the classes and centers in the Southwest, and I see that people understand our concept and are ready to apply them at the next level of training. “This particular training is a grooming for those who will facilitate at local government level for our functionaries. They will be training enumerators and supervisors for the work proper. Lagos is excellence, and leading in terms of getting the right people to teach this level of training for a well-organised census in Lagos State,” he added.
The 2023 Population and Housing Census will hold from March 29 -April 2.