NBS Workshop Ends with Calls for Inclusion of Statistician-General into FEC Meetings

By Kingsley ihearindueme

The two days workshop organized by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS aimed at harnessing inputs from all critical stakeholders of the statistical sector and other organized management sectors for the production of the phase lll of the country's national strategy for the development of statistics has ended with calls for the inclusion of the Statistician-General of the federation into the Federal Executive Council, FEC meetings. 

FEC being the highest decision making body of the country at the national level at this moment, some concerned Nigerians say, needs the full participation of the Statistician-General, owing to the volume of the country's statistics at his disposal.

                                Sen. Sheu Sani

This calls however is coming amidst the widely considered overriding relevance of statistics in economic development of a country vis-a-vis the 8-point agenda of the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who came into power under the renewed hope mantra.

The programme tagged national stakeholders workshop on the production of National Strategy for the. Development of Statistics, NSDS, Phase lll, however brought very many participants from the statistical sector across board of the three tiers of government in the country, including the Ministries, Department and Agencies MDAs of the government in attendance.

Dr. Muhammad Bamanga Associate Professor of Statistics Kaduna State University

During a short interaction with journalists at the event, Sen. Shehu Sani, who spoke on the existential need to coopt the Statistician-General of the federation as member of the Federal Executive Council, FEC meetings, opined that policies and programmes of any government that wants to develop it's economy is always anchored on reliable statistics and as such, the need to urgently have the Statistician-General of the federation into the regular meetings of the Federal Executive Council is not just only justifiable but also crucial.

He pointed out that the workshop was organized by the NBS inorder to develop a new strategy where data would be gathered and be used for national development. 

Speaking further, Sen Sani observed that since 1999, the country has been having government after government without proper usage of statistical data provided in the past, thereby decrying the failure of past administrations, especially the immediate past regime of Gen Muhammadu Buhari in not utilizing statistical data available to it to change the lives of the citizens of the country for good.

Lampooning the immediate past regime for failure of utilizing available statistical data to improve on the lives of it citizenry, he said "the last government promised to lift over a 100 million people out of poverty but ended up leaving over 130,000 million into deeper poverty". 

He however called on the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expedite action to change the narrative, if truly he wants to redeem his electoral promise of renewed hope via his 8-point agenda by making use of statistical data provided by the NBC.

"If this government wants to do anything different, then it must be able to rely on statistics ", he said as he went further to suggest that the Statistician-General of the federation should be incorporated into the Federal Executive Council, FEC for effective utilization cum implementation of government policies and programmes.

Hinging his premise of the volume of data been controlled by the Statistician-General of the federation, Sen  Sani averred that it will go a long way in helping those that are represented at the FEC.

Also reiterating on the need for better utilization of data which will crystalized into an informed decision and policy making cum implementation of government programmes, the inclusion of the Statistician-General of the federation as member of FEC regular meetings is rather considered as an added advantage.

Re-echoing this view was an Associate Professor of statistics from the Kaduna State University, Dr Mohammed A. Bamanga who stated that the inclusion of the custodian of the Statistician-General of the federation as a member of FEC is not out of place.

He pointed out that by his inclusion and as the custodian of the country's statistical data, he stands a chance of availing any data needed to any FEC member on emergency matter.

"When you talk about the FEC, it comprises the president, vice president and then the ministers, he said, adding that "there is also the economic advisers and others from budget and planning in attendance".

 Moving on, he pointed out that in case they need an emergency data, his inclusion then is of essence as he can be of help.

The workshop which is the phase lll, according to him was to principally produce a strategy for the development of statistics, NSDS and would span for a period of 5years, 2024-2028 and is tailored at improving on the lapses of the first-two statistical systems the country had in the past with a view of helping various policy makers and executors in addressing strategic issues in the country.