Association advocates establishment of more bureaus in states
NAN-HE- 11
Bureaus
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, Sept. 16, 2016 (NAN) Dr Godey Ebuh, Vice President, Nigerian Statistical Association, has advocated the establishment of more Bureau of Statistics in states without them for better coordination of statistical system in the country.
Ebuh, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, added that state governments should support statistical activities.
According to him, governments should always support the statistical production and procedures in their states in respective of their merge resources.
“ If only the centre (Federal Government) is funding statistics and the state is not funding, the country cannot achieve sustainable development.
“And if the states are funding statistical activities and the local governments are doing so, things will get better and the entire country will be good for it.
“So, they should not leave it for the Federal Government alone, even the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) should also fund statistical activities in their various offices,’’ Ebuh said.
He, however, advised policy makers to allow statistics to speak, adding that Nigerians should use and have faith in the statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
He advised Nigerians to embrace “Change begins with me’’ re-orientation campaign of the Federal Government and learn to do the right thing as a way to support the government.
“A building built on faulty foundation cannot get it right, change begins with me.
“ Nigeria needs to change the way they do things; if we get it right, our country will be the envy of the entire world.
“Le us do the right thing, get accurate data and let the data speak and if the data speak, government should give interpretation to the data and follow it up.
“Once there is data and the government is not following it up, by the time the consequence begins, it becomes a challenge,’’ Ebuh said.
NAN reports that 23 of the 36 states have established Bureaus of Statistics in line with the statistical law at the National level.
NAN also recalled that the National Statistical law stated that each state must have a bureau of statistics for effective coordination of statistical system. (NAN)
CIA/GOM/IA
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Idris Abdulrahman