The Federal Government has called for collaboration and synergy among all stakeholders to build a robust and responsive statistical system that supports the aspirations and well-being of Nigerians.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu made the call at the National Stakeholders Engagement Workshop for the Drafting of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) Phase III, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Senator Bagudu noted that the move to develop the new NSDS for 2024-2028, was to further transform the nation’s statistical system, expanding its reach and capacities.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Nebeolisa Anako the Minister said, the need to enhance the effectiveness of the nation’s statistical system has been of persistent concern for successive governments, however, with the intervention of the NSDS, the country has made significant progress in this regard.
He assures that the new NSDS would bridge existing gaps and challenges, setting the stage for a unified, integrated, and comprehensive data production system that accurately reflects the nation’s current realities.
“It is our collective endeavour to ensure that the new NSDS not only addresses the strategic issues of the past five years but also anticipates and adapts to the evolving statistical landscape.
“This phase of the NSDS, Phase III (2024-2028), has immense significance for our country as we continue our journey towards transforming the Nigerian Statistical System (NSS) to grow the national economy and society at large”, Bagudu added.
He said, “Statistics would play a vital role in assessing the implementation of the Federal Government’s 8-Point Agenda of Mr President, Bala Ahmed Tinubu. Hence, strengthening the statistical system is paramount to evaluate the current position and subsequent progress of the current administration”.
In his Keynote Address, the Statistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, noted that “statistics are more than just numbers; they are the voice that narrates our nation’s story, informs our decisions, and paves the way for a brighter future. Hence the vital need for a robust strategy to guide the growth and development of the system that produces the statistics we all rely on for our respective work”.
He said, the key principles that must be considered during the draft process are:Inclusivity, Quality and Accuracy, Innovation and Technology, Capacity Building, Partnerships, and Collaboration.
“If we imbibe these five principles in making our contributions towards the drafting of the new NSDS, we will be doing a great deal of service to the development of the statistical system and our nation.
“Let this consultation be the cornerstone of our shared vision for a stronger statistical system in Nigeria. Your contributions will lay the foundation for our strategy, setting out clear goals, measurable indicators, and a path for sustainable development.
“I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead, and I have faith in the collective wisdom of the stakeholders present here today. Together, we can elevate the Nigerian statistical system to new heights and help drive our nation toward a future of informed decisions, progress, and prosperity”, Adeniran noted.
He urged development partners like the World Bank and the British High Commission in Nigeria to assist in building a stronger and more vibrant statistical system, which is capable and well-resourced to produce and facilitate the use of data in the nation’s progress towards sustainable development.
Earlier, the Director, ICT, NBS, Biyi Fafunmi said, the purpose of NSDS was to provide a mechanism for further reform of the National Statistical System (NSS) and acceleration of statistical development in Nigeria.
“NSDS engenders development of an integrated, harmonized, coordinated and coherent NSS to guarantee unified data production process”, he added.
He noted that in order to effectively review the last NSDS and facilitate the development of an inclusive new one, the Bureau has engaged sets of Consultants to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the current National Statistical System (NSS) in Nigeria with a view to producing a new phase of NSDS for the country.
“To ensure that no one is left behind in the development of the new phase of NSDS so that its next phase will build a NSS we desire as a development-focused country, every player must be carried along to give the new initiative a proper inclusiveness”, he said.
