Africa-Press – Liberia. The House of Representatives has begun reviewing the setting of a new date for the National Population and Housing Census (NPHC), one of the issues that prompted the recall of the 54th Legislature into the 1st extraordinary session.
Members of the House unanimously voted on August 25, to forward the Senate’s communication to the Joint Committee on Elections and Inauguration, Judiciary and Good Governance and Government Reform to investigate, consult and report on September 1.
The motion was proffered by Maryland County District #1 Representative P. Mike Jury, following the reading of the Senate’s communication. The Senate, in its communication to the House set the census date from March 18-30, 2023. The Senate date according to President George M. Weah, would have far-reaching consequences for the census project and cost the government more money.
It has been gathered from the corridors of the House that the Joint Committee will recommend that the census date be set for October 14 -28. If the October date is endorsed by the House’s plenary, it means a Conference Committee will be set up to resolve their differences and select one date.
It may be recalled that Weah, in his communication, urged both Houses to allow the census to be conducted in October, and as per advice from the Census Steering Committee, “everything is on course for the conduct of the October 2022 census.”
The President said substantial financial resources to conduct the Census are available, whereas the geographical mapping has been completed; pilot Census has been conducted with results informing the preparation of the actual census, among others.
“This census will be the fifth National Census, but the first digital census. The census is expected to provide significant information for development planning,” he said. “With these achievements, further postponement of the census from October 2022 would have far-reaching consequences for the census project.”
The successive postponements, according to LISGIS, had been due to a lack of funds to conduct the national headcount exercise. And now that significant preparations have been made for the census to be conducted in October 2022, the President is urging the Legislature to charge forward with the date, stressing that further postponement would cost more money.
Weah “stated that postponement of the census from October 2022 to November 2022 will create an added staff cost of US$139,000; in December 2022, is a staff cost of US$278,000; and in March 2023, a staff cost of US$695,000.”
The President furthered that, through south-south cooperation, the Government of Ghana loaned the Government of Liberia 21,000 electronic data collection tablets and accessories, which are to be returned at the end of October 2022.
“If the census is not [held] in October 2022, these devices will be returned and the Government of Liberia will have to purchase its electronic tablets for US$5,355,000. Also, the financial commitment by donors may not be fulfilled if the census is not conducted in October 2022,” the President noted.
Meanwhile, the House has the authority of LISGIS to appear on August 30 to respond to questions from the Specialized Committee headed by Jurry.
The Specialized Committee was tasked to investigate “alleged administrative malpractices.” The Committee, among others, recommended that the Board of Directors should initiate remedy to alleged administrative missteps, including an audit.
For More News And Analysis About Liberia Follow Africa-Press
