The National Population Commission (NPC) has expressed concern over the low rate of national birth registration in Bauchi State.

Ibrahim Darazo, the federal commissioner of NPC representing Bauchi State, said this at a news conference on e-recruitment, e-birth registration and Supplementary Immunisation Activity (SIA) on Friday in Bauchi.

He noted that a birth registration from the commission remained the passport of protection for the child.

“Birth registration provides legal and documentary evidence to certify a person’s existence, age, parentage, birthplace and nationality. It enables a person’s eligibility for healthcare and admission into school.

“Voting, obtaining a passport, employment, marriage, etc, helps to maintain records of birth/death certificates, and provides the legal evidence to the inheritance of property and the rights of surviving spouses to remarry.

“Most importantly, birth registration is critical for the Nigerian child’s survival, health, education, social services initiatives and development goals.

“Simply put, birth registration is the Passport to Protection for Every Child,” he said.

Mr Darazo therefore urged parents and guardians to take advantage of the forthcoming SIA and register their children to benefit from the free national birth certificate.

He said that the NPC had signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with the National Primary Health Care Development (NPHCDA) and UNICEF on immunisation activity.

“The birth registration of under 1 to 5 years old children is through the support of NPHCDA and UNICEF on the Supplementary Immunisation Activity in the state,” he said

Mr Darazo also explained that NPC would on October 31, commence online recruitment of ad-hoc staff who would assist the commission in the conduct of the 2023 census. 

He said the introduction of the e-recruitment process was borne out of the need to ensure fairness and transparency in the recruitment process.

Mr Darazo revealed that the bulk of personnel for the 2023 census would be drawn from the communities where they are resident.

This initiative, according to him, will remove the huge logistics of moving personnel across the state for accuracy.

“The e-recruitment portal is geo-fenced and the application is restricted to only applicants residing in the local government area of residence,” he explained.

(NAN)