The National Population Commission (NPC) on Tuesday warned enumerators and staff members against laxity during the 2023 census exercise.

The 2023 national population and housing census will be held from March 29 to April 1.

Habibat Isa-Jimoh, Kogi NPC federal commissioner, gave the warning during the inauguration of a three-day  Specialised Work Force and State Facilitators Training, held in Lokoja, the state capital.

Ms Isa-Jimoh said the 2023 census was very crucial to the federal government.

Represented by state NPC director, Ojo Abiodun-Titus, the commissioner said, “the government and international community desire a correct, credible and acceptable census for national development purposes.

“Therefore, any attempt to rubbish this census exercise with laxity shall be met with stiff consequences and penalties.

“We expect that when you are going out to the field, make sure you don’t have any political affiliation, especially by putting on T-Shirts and caps of political parties.”

Also speaking, Makanjuola Osagbemi, National Monitoring Consultant to the commission, tasked the participants to take the training seriously to get the knowledge that would help in getting the census right.

Nnamdi Ifeanyi, the NPC state field coordinator, said all enumerators and facilitators would be paid their monies in full as and when due, therefore they should not tow with the national assignment.

(NAN)