By Faith Igbudu
Benue State, National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) has announced that the biometric enumeration of pupils and cooks in the state, earlier scheduled for 21 July, 2021 will now hold 20 September, 2021.
This was contained in a recent press release signed by the State Focal person, Dr Terris Damsa and made available to the press.
According to the release, the decision to reschedule the exercise was reached at a state review meeting compromising of all relevant stakeholders.
The release also requested the relevant stakeholders to work towards ensuring that the goal of the programme is achieved. It urged parents and guardians of the implicated children to ensure early resumption of their wards back to school next term so that they can be captured.
The release further states that the pre-forms for the programme have been distributed to the persons of concern and should be filled and returned to appropriate quarters to facilitate smooth running of the exercise.
The release reads: “The Benue State Office of the National Social Investments Programme wishes to inform Head Teachers of Public Primary Schools, Cooks, Pupils and other stakeholders that the Biometric Enumeration of Cooks, Pupils and Cooks initially billed to commence on the 21st July, 2021 has been postponed and will now commence on 20th September, 2021.
‘The decision to postpone the exercise was made on Saturday, 24th July, 2021 at a Review Meeting of the Benue State Project Task Team comprising of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; Benue State Universal Education Board; National Orientation Agency; National Youth Service Corps; National Bureau of Statistics; National Population Commission; and the State Consultant for the Exercise, Net-Trix Solutions Limited.
“All stakeholders are requested to note the revised schedule and work assiduously towards achieving the goals of the exercise. Parents/Caregivers are also advised to ensure early resumption of their Children/Wards when schools resume for the next term.
“Meanwhile, Pre-Enumeration Forms have been distributed to Cooks, Head Teachers and School Based Management Committees. Those responsible for filling the forms are advised to fill them and return to the appropriate authorities ahead of the biometric capturing,” it concluded.