By Chesa Chesa
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Bagudu has tasked stakeholders in the statistics sector to harness inputs and proffer recommendations for the production of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) in Nigeria for 2024-2028.
He gave the charge on Tuesday at the ongoing National stakeholders’ workshop on the production of NSDS phase III holding in Abuja.
The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Nebolisa Anako, said the new NSDS will bridge existing gaps and challenges, setting the stage for a unified, integrated, and comprehensive data production system that accurately reflects our current realities.
He appealed to participants and other stakeholders 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.
According to him, 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.
“The need to enhance the effectiveness of our statistical system has been of persistent concern for successive governments, and with the intervention of the NSDS, we have made significant progress in this regard”, he said.
Bagudu noted that statistics would play a vital role in assessing the implementation of the Federal Government’s 8-Point Agenda of the government of President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that strengthening the statistical system is paramount to evaluate the current position and subsequent progress of the current administration.
He expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, Development Partners, and other participants who have joined the government in this endeavour, just as he looked forward to witnessing the transformative impact of the NSDS Phase III on the nation’s statistical system and its vital role in Nigeria’s development.
In his keynote address at the occasion, the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, acknowledged the presence of critical stakeholders in the national workshop.
According to him, honouring the agency’s invitation “underscores the profound significance of our collective mission and your indispensable role in shaping the destiny of the statistics system in Nigeria”.
He said statistics, often referred to as the ‘silent language of governance,’ are the underpinnings of a robust, informed, and thriving society, stressing that they form the bedrock upon which policies and programmes are shaped, resources allocated, and progress assessed or evaluated.
“As we convene here today for this important task, we recognize 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”, he said.
He emphasized the vital need for a robust strategy to guide the growth and development of the system that produces the statistics that all stakeholders would rely on for their respective work.
Prince Adeniran expressed gratitude to the present government, through the very supportive Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, for his support and encouragement towards the development and progress of statistics in Nigeria, adding that significant progress will be made over the next four years under his supervision.
He appreciated the oversight committees from the legislature, both from the Senate and the House of Representatives, for their interest and support so far, stressing that the agency’s initial interactions and engagements already point to a strong passion for data and a commitment to our success.
