By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Prince Adeyemi Adeniran has stated that the ‘Good Governance in Economic Development Award’ bestowed on him by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) was a call for more work.
Prince Adeniran stated this in Acceptance Speech on the
auspicious occasion of the International Press Freedom Day, marked by the NUJ at the weekend.
“I wholeheartedly accept this ‘Good Governance in Economic Development Award’ with all sense of appreciation and feel that this recognition is a call to more work in the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS’) sustained drive towards improved, evidence-based statistical data production for our national development”, he said.
Represented by the Director, Communication and Public Relations, Mr. Ichedi Joel, the Statistician-General said, the event was apt, especially coming at a time when the present administration was implementing series of policies and programmes to improve the performance of the economy and socioeconomic welfare of the citizenry.
He noted that giving recognition to leaders in government, who are driving these laudable initiatives will go a long way to encourage them to put in their best in transforming the nation to the desired good governance and sustainable growth levels the country is angling for.
He did not hesitate to bring the journalists up to speed with some of the current initiatives of the Bureau in ensuring that reliable data are generated for all areas of national development on timely basis.
The NBS boss said, “the Bureau is investing in ICT for its data collection, analysis, and dissemination in line with global best practices.
“For example, in the past three years or so, the Bureau has been using Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) to collect data from the field in all its surveys as against the old method of using hard copy questionnaires to source data from respondents. In this way, the production processes are faster and more cost efficient.
“Today, our enumerators are being remotely monitored through technological tools and solutions through the Data collection Monitoring Room located in the headquarters and other offices in the six geopolitical zones nationwide”, Prince Adeniran said.
In addition, he said, the Bureau is also adopting international standard methodology in its data production processes to make Nigeria’s statistical data meet the best global quality standards.
“One of the surveys which International Standard Methodology was applied was the conduct of the Nigerian Labour Force Sample Survey (NLFSS).
“Other ongoing statistical activities which the Bureau is applying international methodology to conduct are the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rebasing.
“It is important to inform you that the Bureau has concluded the National Agricultural Sample Census/National Agricultural Sample Survey, Nigerian Living Standard Survey, Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey, Survey on Force and Child Labour, among others, as part of its sustained efforts to update data across the broad spectrum of the political economy”, he said.
The Statistician-General disclosed that the Bureau was also collaborating with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in Nigeria to conduct a baseline survey that has to do with statistical data production on security situation in the country.
He expressed his appreciation to the NUJ and the media for their invaluable support in publicising NBS activities, and pledged to sustain the partnership with the media, through capacity building workshops and other programmes.
He, however, dedicated the award to the entire hard-working staff of the Bureau, who are always supporting the management to ensure that reliable data needed to guide policy makers in the nation’s national development agenda are generated on timely basis.
Among the Awardees in this category are: The Governors of Benue and Borno States, Minister of Education, DG of NTA, DG of Voice of Nigeria, National President of NUT and Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited (NNPC Ltd).
