BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI—The Chairman, Nigerian Population Commission, NPC, Sir Eze Duruiheoma, SAN, has appealed to Nigerians to divorce politics from the forthcoming national census.

Duruiheoma, who made the appeal when he addressed the management staff of the commission in Owerri, also disclosed that preparations  for the 2016 census would commence in earnest, consequent upon a Presidential proclamation to this effect.

“Census is of paramount importance to the nation and the world at large. Census is not all about revenue sharing; it is a system that generates data with which development could be planned and executed.
“The population of any country is primarily meant for planning, stressing that census should not been seen as a measure for revenue that should accrue to  any part of the country.

”Let me make it abundantly clear that census is not all about revenue sharing but a method that generates data with which development can be planned. We should therefore de-politicise census,” he said.
The NPC boss identified poor funding, poor remuneration, dilapidated blocks and equipment as some of the problems facing the commission.

“I am aware of the existing  salary disparity facing our staff. I will take up the matter but you should let me have the data of other commissions and how  much they earn, which will serve as the basis for comparison,” Duriheoma said.