The National Population Commission for Edo State has appealed to the state government to key into the ongoing nationwide electronic birth registration for children aged zero to five years.

The National Commissioner of NPC for the state, Tony Ayejina, blamed the low enrollment rate on an alleged lack of buy-in from the immediate past government in the state on Thursday.

Mr Ayejina said that the state had yet to reach 20 per cent of its enrollment target, while other states in the country were close to 100 per cent.

He said, “The case of Edo is obvious because of the election. The whole of August and September was used for electioneering and Godwin Obaseki used that as an excuse not to even listen to anybody or give any support expected of him like it had happened in other places. We waited till the new government was sworn in on November 12. Even at that, the man has not settled down to give us attention. I was in Edo to set a template to rip off the process. We are getting close to 20 per cent which is not a pass mark.’’

The national commissioner explained that his efforts to enlist the support of the local government chairmen to drive the exercise yielded no result.

According to him, the chairman of the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria has been evasive.

Mr Ayejina stated, “The commissioner for local government has not been appointed; they asked me to see the permanent secretary in the ministry. The permanent secretary wrote a letter to the local governments, but that has not yielded anything too. The 192 councillors we have in Edo ought to make it a responsibility and join, but that is not the case. I presented the necessary information and papers to the ALGON chairman in Edo, yet no desired results.’’

Mr Ayejina said the low enrollment implied that Edo children would be left out of the federal government and UNICEF plans for the state.

“Our people should know the implications of what we are doing. If there is no census, it is this survey and other things that we do that the government will use for planning purposes.
“Every child must have a legal identity. If they do not have an electronically generated birth certificate, they don’t have legal status. I did jingles; I went to the EBS (Edo Broadcasting Service). I used my personal money just for a few airs. No money to do additional airings. In other states, they do pro bono services for this kind of thing. UNICEF is paying N300 per registration for ad hoc staff, but unfortunately, this amount does not resonate with the Edo people.

“In the northern part of the country, the government augmented and they paid double and everybody does this thing with excitement. Some have attained 100 per cent completion. We have till December 31, but beyond that, Edo can ask for an extension so that children can be registered,” he said.

He urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to quickly look into the commission’s request before him so that the state would not be left out in the scheme of things.

He said there was a request before the government, which if Mr Okpebholo supported, the state could request for an extension to reach its target in the important children registration exercise.

The exercise started on July 29 and is expected to end on December 31. 

(NAN)