Gulf provincial government signs MOA for census

(L-R) Census Director Hajily Kele, National Statistician John Igitoi, and Gulf Provincial Administrator Gabriel Opa during the MOA signing (NSO)

The National Statistical Office has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Gulf Provincial Government to ensure the National Population Census is conducted in the province.

With few provinces remaining to sign the MOA, preparation is well underway for the National Census that will be conducted in the country from June 17-30.

Gulf provincial administrator Gabriel Opa gave the assurance to work together when signing the agreement with National Statistician John Igitoi.

Mr. Opa said the population census is an important national government agenda. As a provincial government, they will give the necessary support to ensure the event is successfully implemented in Gulf Province.

" Census is important for the country and our Provincial Government to use the exact statistics and Population data provided by the NSO for us to use in our development plan,” he said.

Meanwhile, NSO kicked off the first-tier training of the provincial trainers last week, aimed to boost their skills during the population data collection exercise.

Participants from different government bodies, directorates, units, and offices in Port Moresby participated as trainees.

Participants from various provinces participated during day 2 of the provincial trainer's workshop (NSO)

More than 20 participants from other provinces also flew in to attend the training.

The purpose of the training was to ensure that the census was conducted accurately and consistently with all procedures understood well by the participants.

The participants, the national trainers, and other national statistical officers were there to witness the mini opening of the training by the National Statistician John Igitoi, and the Census Director Mrs. Hajily Kele.

“National Population Census is an exercise that is sanctioned by the National Government tasking the National Statistical Office as the authorized statistical provider for the country,” Mr. Igitoi said.

He said NSO as the lead, undertakes census exercises every 10 years with the last census taken 13 years ago.

Mr. Igitoi added that this year’s census should be done properly so that the data collected can be accurate because the National Population is the common denominator for any other development plan for the country.

He said It is important to carry out this census because the statistics and population figures provided will be used by the National Government to do its development plan for PNG.