NAN-HE- 11
Framework
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, Dec. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Statistician General, Dr Yemi Kale, has urged the stakeholders to support the implementation of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS II), to enhance timely data in the country.
NSDS is designed to provide a framework for the development and ownership of statistics in the country.
It is designed to provide development and ownership of statistics by sufficiently equipping the system in terms of human resources, tools and infrastructure to provide timely and reliable statistics.
Kale made the call at the Launch of the NSDS II/ Sector Statistics Strategy and National Consultative Committee on Statistics (NCCS) in Abuja.
Kale was represented by Mr Samanja Mando, Director, Field Service and Methodology Department, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) at the event.
He said that there was need for the stakeholders to support the implementation of NSDS II in order to provide the nation with comprehensive, timely and reliable statistics.
“I must reiterate my challenge to participants to come with feasible ways and means of improving the delivery of good statistics strategy.
“I believe the recommendation that would be emerged from this workshop will help in repositioning and refocusing the production of statistics in Nigeria,’’ Kale said.
The statistician general said the Federal Government would leave no stone unturned in putting in place the necessary statistical infrastructure that would support the implementation of NSDS.
He said that the Sector Statistics Strategy and the State Statistical Master Plan (SSMP) were integral components on the NSDS.
“In essence, as the NSDS is being implemented, the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will be implementing the Sector Strategy Strategies, while the states implement the SSMP simultaneously.
“I appeal to all the affected government authorities to accord the implementation of these strategies the desired support.
“This is critical in order to provide robust and reliable statistical information that would support government’s decision- making processes as well as proper planning of socio-economic programmes,’’ Kale said.
Earlier, Director, Real Sector and Household Statistics Department, Mr Isiaka Olarewaju said formulation and implementation of the current government policies would require a lot data to achieve meaningful results.
Olarewaju , represented by Mrs Patricia Ewerema, Director, Demography and Social Statistics said Nigeria required a robust statistics to enable it effectively design programmes towards the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said that country required statistics to monitor progress made towards achieving the desired goals and targets.
“In the course of this launch, synopsis of the NSDS 11 and Sector Statistics will be given as a way of giving participants some insights into the their contents.
“I urge you all to actively participate in the deliberations in order to achieve the objective of this event,’’ the director said.
Also, Mr Dayo Aregbesola, Ondo State Statistician General said that NSDS II built on the gains of NSDS I.
Aregbesola said the document would extend the frontier of data management at the state levels.
“The states are vital stakeholders in generating statistics from the grassroots and I believe our coming together will provide us with opportunity to brainstorm with other stakeholders,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by NBS with funding from European Union (EU), under the EU Support to the Federal Governance Reform Programme in Nigeria. (NAN)
CIA/EAL/MO
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Morayo Omolade
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