The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has assured of assurance to implement sector statistics strategies for 20 Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) to drive reforms in the country.
Yemi Kale, the Statistician-General of the Federation, said the strategies had been designed for the MDAs through the National Strategy for Development of Statistics (NSDS) to drive the process of reforming statistics at MDAs level.
Kale who spoke at the 2015 African Statistics Day Celebration on Wednesday noted that “ The development of statistics both horizontally and vertically within the Nigeria Statistical System is a key priority that requires all hands to be on deck.
“This, we are determined to achieve within the nearest possible time,’’ the statistician-general said.
The bureau has assisted in setting up statistical bureau in about 21 states while others are at different stages of completion. However, it still needs collaboration of the stakeholders in the sector to support the current efforts at developing the Nigerian Statistical System.
Kale said the support for the development of the Nigerian Statistical System would provide government with comprehensive, timely and reliable statistics to achieve the desired change.
Pa-Lamin Beyai, Country Director of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), said that accurate and timely date would enhance economic growth.
Beyai said that availability of reliable data was a key factor in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“ For any development to succeed, we need innovative data and analysis of poverty level, access to education and incidence of diseases.
“Statistics are essential considerations in justifying almost all aspects of government budget and programmes to allow people to feed.
“It is therefore important to strengthen the availability of statistics in any country,’’ he said.
The country director, however, commended the Federal Government on the implementation of NSDS and the road map for coordinating Statistical Development System.
He said that successful implementation of NSDS required more collaboration and engagement of development partners for the production and use of reliable statistics in Nigeria.
“We need to collectively focus on strengthening the capacity of NBS and state statistical bureaux to produce timely, reliable and comparable statistics,’’ Beyai said.
Barbara Barungi, Lead Economist, African Development Bank (AfDB), urged the statistician-general and his team to review the NBS to strengthen the institutional capacity.
“I think we can all do much more in partnership with you and by understanding better holistically the needs of NBS and how we can support this process.
“I also want to commend you for improving on the ways you communicate your data to your users,’’ she said.
According to her, the re-basing of the economy has informed similar exercise across the country.
“We (AfDB) try to use the examples we see here in Nigeria to replicate in other African countries and we are also hoping to continue strong partnership with you.
“We hope to continue partnership with you in the production of our flagship report on the African Development Outlook in which we come to you annually for important data.’’
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