In another development, the State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has mandated the local government councils to set up committees to collaborate with officials and ad-hoc staff of the National Population Commission (NPC) to ensure a hitch-free census exercise in the state.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo clarified that each community in every LGA would have a committee set up for the exercise, with its membership comprising the Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman, youth president, women leader, secretary of the chiefs’ council,  a representative of the clergy, and one primary school head teacher.

While stressing the importance of the next year’s population census, the Deputy Governor encouraged young Bayelsans from the eight LGAs to apply online for positions to work as ad hoc staff of the National Population Commission during the forthcoming headcount.

He called on the acting chairmen of the councils to convene town-hall meetings at the local government headquarters to brief the paramount rulers, CDC chairmen, and chiefs, women and youth leaders from the various communities as well as make arrangements to secure materials to be deployed to their areas for the exercise.

The forthcoming national population census is scheduled to hold by April next year.