The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday commenced the review of the framework for the production of statistics by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.
The review, which is being done in collaboration with the European Union under the Federal Government Public Service Programme, will provide comprehensive and reliable data for the reforms being carried out in the public sector.
Speaking in Abuja at the stakeholders’ validation workshop for the exercise, the Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive, NBS, Dr. Yemi Kale, said the instruments to be reviewed were critical in driving the process of statistical production at the MDAs level, particularly in the area of administrative statistics.
He said as one of the implementation agencies of the EU reform project in the public sector, the bureau would do all within its power to put in place necessary statistical infrastructure that would guarantee effective and sustained production of statistics at the level of the MDAs.
This, according to him, has become imperative since effective production of statistics by government agencies is capable of satisfying about 70 per cent of data requirement in the country.
Kale said, “The importance of this forum is underscored by the fact that it is aimed at providing opportunity for critical appraisals of the reports of the review of the compendium of statistical terms and the framework for the production of administrative statistics at the MDA level.
“It is important to mention that the instruments to be reviewed are critical in driving the process of statistical production at the MDAs.
“It is important that I re-emphasize the need for all stakeholders to support the implementation of the statistical component of the project in order to provide the government with comprehensive, timely and reliable statistics for the Federal Government’s public service reform programme.”
Represented at the event by the Director, Field Service and Methodology, NBS, Mrs. Felicia Abioye, Kale called on all the MDAs to take the project seriously as it would enhance the process of production of statistics.
The Representative of the EU Delegation in Nigeria, Mr. Omotunde Oni, said the union’s support would help to improve the quality of statistics generated by agencies across various sectors of the economy.
He added that the EU would support the establishment of a statistics networking system for seamless flow of data as well as strengthen the capacity of the NBS in the production, harmonisation and dissemination of social, economic and administrative data. – Punch.
