Plateau State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Honourable Ephraim Usman has said for any meaningful development to take place, the government must know its population for it to adequately plan for its citizens. This according to him, the state government would partner with the National Population Commission (NPC), for it to achieved its desired goal in the forth coming exercise.
Chief Usman made this known on Thursday 21st September 2023 when the State Commissioner of the National Population Commission Mrs Cecilia Dapoet paid him a visit in his office recently and to also briefed him at the level of preparedness for the forth coming head count in the state.
In a statement issued by the Head of Information, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Edward Damwesh and made available to this medium, Chief Ephraim Usman said that the NPC should ensure they moved to the rural areas for adequate sensitization and training so that when the exercise commences it would be a success in all ramifications because he said the bulk of the people reside in the rural areas.
While describing the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as a grassroot based ministry , he assured them of support as well extending their request to the Governor of Plateau State for the exercise to be hitch -free .
He further added that the state government was focused and E-governance would helped accelerate development saying that they have keyed into that for good and effective governance for the benefit of all.
Chief Ephraim Usman thanked them for the visit describing it as enlightened and wished them success assuring them of support at every time.
The State Commissioner of NPC, Mrs Cecilia Dapoet, who was represented by Felicia James Mwolpun posited that they were in his office to brief him the next census preparedness which she added was postponed earlier.
According to her, they had gone far with the level of preparedness which included adequate demographic conducted, electronic device test and train the trainers done to achieved the desired results adding that with the postponement ,it would afford them to plan more for the exercise. She said, the Commission has constituted Committees and Sub – committees for the forth coming exercise and gladly informed Hon.Usman that he was one amongst them.
In a related development, the leadership of the Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Association Plateau State chapter were also in the office of the Honorable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Chief Ephraim Usman on a visit. Led by the Chairman Prof. Raymond Daspan the group said their visit to the ministry was to highlights to the ministry the mineral potential of the state as it concerned the 17 Local Governments Council of the state with the view of partnership with them in order to burst the earnings of the councils and also safeguard the environment from danger associated with mining exploration .
Also in the Commissioner’s office were the EXCO of the Country Women Association of Nigeria led by state coordinator Mrs. Jessica Vonkat who stressed that they were in the Commissioner’s office to brief the ministry on the forthcoming annual international women’s day celebration which comes up on 15th October, 2023 and solicited for assistance in the area mobilization of rural women to attend the event as the benefits will impact them positively.
In the same vein the Commissioner received in audience the leadership of the Bogghom Youth Movement, led by the Secretary, Central Planning Committee of the Proposed Bogghom Youths Carnival Mr. John Zopmal who said as one of their own they are in his office of the Honorable Commissioner to identify with him and encourage him to be steadfast and dedicated to his duty as they know him to be a hard working person.
The Commissioner thanked all the groups that paid him the courtesy visit noting that the ministry is emboldened by the visit and is ready to partner with them for the progress of the government and good people of the state.
Nigeria Star News 