The National Population Commission (NPC) has concluded training of field functionaries for the second pre-test exercise in designated Enumeration Areas (EAs) in four Local Government Areas (LGA) of Bayelsa State.

The pre-test exercise which is a trial of the census questionnaire will take place from Friday, December 3, to Friday, December 10, 2021.

Mrs. Gloria Izonfuo, Federal Commissioner, NPC in Bayelsa, said on Thursday in Yenagoa, that the commission had earlier conducted the first pre-test to test-run the census instruments.

Izonfuo explained that as a result of the continued efforts of the Commission to improve on its readiness for the census, that it resolved to conduct the second pre-test exercise.

According to her, the training was an integral part of the preparation for the fieldwork.

She said the second pre-test was designed to train the Comptrollers, Supervisors and Enumerators and other field functionaries in readiness for the Second Census Pre-test fieldwork.

The NPC Federal Commissioner further explained that pre-test was usually conducted before the actual census and was primarily aimed at testing the census methodology, questionnaires, data collection methods, manual for fieldwork, among others.

According to Izonfuo, the pre-test exercise was carried out in the 12 Enumeration Areas in all the chosen four LGAs of Yenagoa, Ekeremor, Sagbama and Southern Ijaw.

She noted that in the next few days, participants at the training would re-evaluate the skills and practical demonstrations of operations in the field.

She said the effort would deliver a truly, scientific pre-test that could prepare the ground for a credible and acceptable census exercise.

She also added that the conduct of the training was strategic in ensuring that the continuous journey for the next Census was strong and error-proof.

According to her, getting the pre-test right was not just an option, but an absolute necessity. She noted that NPC’s quest to deliver to the nation, an accurate, reliable, acceptable and verifiable census was a top priority.

She said the Commission would ensure that the second pre-test for the next census would be carried out meticulously, professionally and scientifically; in order to provide the basis for the smooth conduct of the May 2022 Census.

Izonfuo noted that that the Commission was adopting a gradual, but meticulous approach to ensure that methodology and strategies for the pre-test were well tested and the personnel for the exercise, adequately trained.

She appealed to the State and Local Governments, Traditional Institutions and Communities to support the Commission in carrying out the pre-test exercise by allowing enumerators unfettered access to facilities and places to be enumerated.

Izonfuo urged them to also sensitise the people on the essence of the pre-test exercise and solicited for their cooperation and also appealed to all stakeholders to refrain from undue interference in the pre-test exercise.

She urged them to allow the field functionaries to carry out their duties professionally and give the nation a good outcome that would help the Commission in its effort to prepare for a successful census.