Commends Buhari and stakeholders support ..
Announces Plans For joint prayer/solidarity rally..
The College of Clergymen in Nigeria have inaugurated a consultative Committee to ensure an effective sensitisation and Advocacy towards Nigeria”s next census.
The group also announced plans of holding a joint prayer and solidarity rally on the usefulness of the exercise to Nigerians.
Leader of the College, Abel King who spoke with newsmen in Abuja said as the next National Population and Housing Census draws near, it is important for the group to reach out to Nigerians through the media and lend their voices on the need for collective actions to make the exercise a success.
“As a body of clergy men drawn from across different denominations and faith but untied by our love and zeal for a prosperous, untied and developed Nigeria, we have undertaken to jointly embark on massive sensitisation exercises our various communities and religious organisations. There’s no gain saying that many unpatriotic Nigerians have already launched spurious campaigns of misinformation targeted at derailing the efforts of the National Population Commission (NPC). Our sensitisation efforts will therefore aim at giving out the right information and encouraging massive turn out and participation in the forthcoming census exercise. We cannot do it alone that’s why we have called you here.
“The last time Nigeria had a Census was in 2006. It’s almost 20 years after as against the 10 year interval recommended by the United Nations. We are grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for this legacy. His interest in the exercise including the swift approval of the Census budget attests to the fact that he wants to leave a blueprint for development built around credible and factual information and not the projections we have grown used to over the years. Indeed no meaningful development can go on without a fact based planning. This is what Mr. President is giving Nigerians and we are solidly in support regardless of what some unpatriotic elements are insinuating.
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“Census data apart from being a tool for development planning also serves to direct government policies to align with certain demographic realities. With a young and growing population, Nigeria has more youth and children than older persons. That we have high level of youth unemployment is simply because governments over the years failed to realise this fact and and utilise the demographic dividends arising from a youthful population. The establishment of schools notwithstanding, there were no direct attempt aimed at creating jobs, expanding healthcare, housing delivery and sporting facilities to cater for this population cohort. This is what this census will achieve for Nigeria and as responsible stakeholders, we are determined to do everything in our power to support governments efforts towards making it a reality.
“As religious leaders, we understand the power of God prayer in the life of human beings. While we shall plan, organise and hold joint interdenominational prayer sessions across the country including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, we enjoin Nigerians to fervently fast and pray for the success of this year’s Census exercise. Prayer is the key and our only direct way of communicating with the divine. Let us use this medium to call on God to put our enemies to shame and bring about a free, fair and successful Population and Housing Census!
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we called you here because we depend on you to reach out to Nigerians. We urge you to stand solidly behind us and dedicated your editorials and media spaces for the promotion of the 2023 National Population and Housing Census. To our brother and sisters in other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), we know the work you have been doing and what you’ll always do but we ask that you do more. This is a national project and its success is our success as Nigerians and stakeholders. Kindly join us in this advocacy regardless of your thrust since whatever happens to Nigeria will affect us all.
“Before we, it is pertinent to salute Mr. President again for his resoluteness and steadfastness. He has proven himself as a worthy leader. We thank the Board and management of the National Population Commission for their efforts so far. To all Nigerians you have expressed willingness to partner and work towards the success of this exercise, we salute you. That’s true spirit of patriotism and we as religious leaders are also making this commitment today and pledging to reach out to our people and pray for the success of this project. May Nigeria succeed!” He said
