The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday said it would begin a quarterly forum of heads of states’ statistical offices for better coordination of statistical system in the country in 2016.
The Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, said this at the opening of a two-day workshop on the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) in Saminaka, Kaduna State.
Kale said the objective of organising a forum with the head of states’ statistical offices was for the NBS to get update on the statistical projects across the country.
According to him, the meeting with the officials will help to address the challenge of duplication of data and ensure consistent methodology in data gathering and dissemination.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop is also hosting the 2015 Forum of the National Consultative Committee on Statistics (NCCS).
`It is important that I re-emphasise the need for all stakeholders to support the implementation of the next phase of the NSDS.
“It is important for the stakeholders to support the process in order to provide the nation with comprehensive, timely and reliable statistics,’’ Kale said.
According to him, Nigeria can become a developed nation only if everyone contributes to the best of his or her ability and capacity.
He said that the job of the government was to set a strategic vision for the nation and to design policies, plans and programmes to drive the vision.
“We have a great responsibility in providing reliable data in a timely fashion and required to make this a reality.
“This is NCCS’s role in this process of national development,’’ Kale said.
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Gov. of Kaduna State, said that the state was witnessing the transition of NSDS Phase I to Phase II.
El-Rufai, who was represented by Mr Basheer Ibrahim, Statistician- General, Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics, said the workshop was aimed at providing mechanism for a holistic reform of statistical system in Nigeria.
He said that the state government had approved a holistic reform of the statistical system to address challenges of current statistical culture and new demand.
“This is aimed at designing a new strategic planning to achieve national and international statistical best practices.
“So, the state is currently reviewing its Statistical Master Plan into Kaduna State Data Revolution Master Plan as the UN demanded in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals,’’ the governor said.
Earlier, Mrs Felicia Abioye, Director, Field Services and Methodology Department, NBS, said the bureau was in the final stages of designing a revised NSDS for National Statistical System (NSS).
“The next phase of the strategy will span over 2016-2019.
“This will cover the entire NSS, bringing together all agencies involved in data production across the three tiers of government.
“Its central focus is to ensure the existence of a Statistical System in Nigeria that will be capable of effectively meeting both national and international data needs,’’ she said.
NAN reported that the workshop was organised by NBS with funding from European Union (EU), under the EU Support to the Federal Government Reform Programme. (NAN)
