The National Population Commission, NPC in partnership with
UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has presented an Operational Readiness Assessment Report for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, CRVS in preparation for a digital and credible census.
Chairman of the commission Isa Kwarra during the presentation in Abuja said transition to automated census was the best path to thread. He also explained that the commission, in collaboration with Implementing Partners, IPs would soon engender inclusive and modern method of providing unique identity for Nigerians.
Kwarra added that the commission admits that full transition to digitisation and automation will be discouraging. he however noted with the assistance of development partners like UNICEF, CRVS in Nigeria will soon be fully digitised to engender more inclusive and modern method of providing unique identity to Nigerians.’
Also, Chairman, House Committee on Population and National Identity, Lawal Idris, said such automation would enable NPC to monitor death rates and immigration for population estimation. He assured of the National Assembly’s support in terms of legislative interventions.
UNICEF Country Representative, Peter Hawkins said birth registration was the first step of securing the rights of the child. He however expressed worry over the low rate of birth registration in the country, saying that achieving 80 per cent registration by the year 2023 was possible.
