A meeting was held recently by the National Census Steering Committee to progress discussion and evaluate what has been done so far, as the nation prepares for the Census in June 2024. The committee members comprising 27 State agencies heads, with the Department of National Planning and Monitoring Secretary Mr. Korney Samuel as the chairman to the committee and the Deputy Chair, National Statistician John Igitoi. In the last two National Census Steering Committee meetings, it was co-chaired by Deputy Secretary for National Planning Michael Kumun and the National Statistician, John Igitoi. The National Census Steering Committee provides the technical advisory roles and provides directives and guidance to the National Statistical Office (NSO) on the Census and how the state agencies can participate in this national event. The Census also has seven sub-committees that deals with specific areas of the Census preparations such as publicity & awareness, security, coordination, finance and logistics, procurement, and the user advisory committee at the technical level where they provide technical inputs and advisory the steering committee on the next course of action. It consists of the technical staff from the members of the Census Steering Committee. Deputy Secretary for National Planning Mr. Kumun has urged those present to give their utmost support in whatever capacity they can to ensure this year’s census is delivered. He said this year’s national population census is a national government sanctioned event that was officially launched by Prime Minister James Marape who highlighted that all State agencies must work in partnership and collaboration with NSO and the Provincial Government to ensure the Census is delivered as scheduled. “A lot of progress has already been made in terms of procurement, logistics and publicity with the actual preparation of trainers to train enumerators.” “The recruitment drive for the census enumerators has already started”. Kumun added that Post PNG will assist in logistics; Information Communication Technology Department will help in ICT related matters, while the Police, Correctional Service and Defence department will do a comprehensive security assessment to provide security for census officials in areas that is needed or necessary. “The office of the Chief Secretary, the Prime Minister’s Department and Department of Personal Management is expected to issue a joint statement for the participation of all Public Servants in Papua New Guinea in this year’s Census.” The committee will meet again in the next two weeks.