Fact-check: National Population Commission is Not Currently Recruiting Ad-hoc Staffs!
Claim:
There have been recent claims circulating online that the National Population Commission (NPC) is currently recruiting Ad-hoc staff for the 2025 Population and Housing Census. An invalid website has been widely shared on social media, allegedly serving as the official recruitment portal.
Verdict:
False. The National Population Commission (NPC) has issued an official statement debunking these claims and warning the public against falling victim to fraudulent recruitment schemes.
Verification:
To verify this claim, FactCheckAfrica analysed the official press release issued by the NPC on January 30, 2025, signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Erelu Taibat Yemi Oloruntoba. The statement categorically refutes any ongoing Ad-hoc staff recruitment for the 2025 census and warns Nigerians about the fake website being circulated.
The NPC clarified that no recruitment exercise is underway since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not yet issued a proclamation date for the conduct of the next Population and Housing Census. The Commission emphasized that any official recruitment process will be announced through national media, NPC’s social media platforms, and the official NPC website.
Additionally, independent investigations confirm that the website in question does not belong to the National Population Commission. It appears to be designed to scam unsuspecting applicants by collecting personal information. There is no legitimate evidence supporting the claim that NPC is currently recruiting Ad-hoc staff for the census.
Context:
Nigeria’s census exercises have historically been of great national interest, often accompanied by recruitment of thousands of temporary workers. As a result, fraudulent recruitment schemes targeting job seekers have become common. Scammers exploit public anticipation by creating fake websites to collect data or demand payment from unsuspecting individuals. The NPC’s response in debunking this misinformation highlights the importance of verifying information through official sources before engaging with recruitment claims.
Conclusion:
Based on the evidence, the claim that NPC is currently recruiting Ad-hoc staff for the 2025 Population and Housing Census is false. The NPC has denied these claims, stating that recruitment will only commence after a presidential proclamation and through official NPC channels. Nigerians are advised to disregard the fraudulent website and avoid falling victim to online scams.
Habeeb Adisa
