Ondo State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan has called on the National Population Commission to conduct new census for the country to enhance accelerated economic development of the states in the federation.
Pastor Igbasan, who made the call during a 2 - day workshop organized by the state government in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), held at Royal Bird, Alagbaka, Akure, explained that for government to develop policies and invest on projects that would secure the future of its poeple, government requires to know the size, sex, location and age structure of the current and future population.
The Commissioner explained that the present government is committed to demographic dividend project that would help to develop policy framework aimed at reducing mortality rate, improve girl-child education, reduce numbers of dependent population and improve health care delivery system to enhance all round development of the state.
He added that there is the need for relevant sectors of government to make collective efforts and synergy to boost the demographic dividend for sustainable development.
Pastor Igbasan, who also call on the National Population Commission to consider further disaggregation census figures to the ward level, which according to him would help political wards in the country for planning at that level, also noted that it is imperative at this point in time to place emphasizes on harnessing demographic divided globally in order to have national population census to provide accurate data on the current population structure at both national and sub-national level.
He, therefore, commended the State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, for his commitment towards giving a new lease of life to the good poeple of the state through the various laudable programs embarked upon by his administration.
The Commissioner also appreciated the UNFPA for the various support and partnership with the state government in her developmental strides and enjoined all participants to give the training the seriousness it deserves so that the objectives of the workshop would be realized.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Bunmi Alade, who thanked the UNFPA for sponsoring the program, assured that the State Bureau of Statistics would measure up to the expected standard and surpass other states in the country.
In his welcome address, the Statistician General of the State, Mr Dayo Aregbesola lauded the state government for being the next state to key into the program aside Lagos state in the South West.