NAN-HE-17
Statistics
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, June 21, 2017 (NAN) Dr Olusanya Olubusoye, 2nd Vice President, Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) has called for the establishment of Bureau in states for better coordination of statistical system in the country.
Olubusoye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that the association had been advocating for the creation of Bureau of Statistics in each of the 36 states of the federation.
He said that 21 of the 36 states had so far passed the Statistics Bill.
The states are Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo and Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto and Zamfara.
He, however, said that some states had established bureaus of statistics without passing the Statistics Bill, adding that passing the Bill could take longer time.
According to him, Lagos state is an example of the state that has established its bureau without passing the Bill.
The official said that the major responsibility of the State Bureau of Statistics (SBU) was to produce reliable data about the state to support policy making at that level of government and national level.
“There is no doubt that the existence of Lagos Bureau of Statistics (LBS) has contributed to the physical and economic transformation being witnessed in the state.
“The economy of the state is knowledge-based and the policies are evidenced-based because they are driven by good statistics.
“We hope that the remaining states will join soon,’’ he said.
Olubusoye said that statistics was a veritable tool for improving the quality of life; it is not just producing data but using data to make informed policy decisions for timely intervention.’’
The official said that the association would be holding its first international statistical conference in Lagos state to showcase the achievement of the state in using statistics.
Olubusoye said the forthcoming conference would hold in Lagos from 6 to 8 Sept. 2017 to associate with state in using statistics for planning and development purposes.
“It is an epoch-making conference that will remain unforgettable in the over forty years of the existence of the association.
“The conference is expected to attract statisticians, economists, educationists, bankers, financial analysts, business analysts, public policy analysts, computer analysts, planners and researchers.
“It will also attract professionals in allied fields, users and producers of statistics and others with interest in statistics from within and outside Nigeria.
“The theme of the conference is Positioning National Statistical Systems for Data Revolution and Inclusive Development,’’ the official said. (NAN)
CIA/EAL
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Editd by Ekemini Ladejobi