By Joyce Babayeju
The Minister of Budget & Economic Planning Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has reiterated the importance of statistical data in government planning.
Speaking at the National Stakeholders Engagement Workshop for the Drafting of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) Phase III, the minister said Ststistics would play a vital role in assessing the implementation of the 8-Point Agenda of President, Bala Ahmed Tinubu. According to him, “strengthening the statistical system is paramount to evaluate the current position and subsequent progress of the current administration”.
He also urge all stakeholders to work together towards the realisation of the goals and implementation of the NSDS.
“As we move forward, we acknowledge the importance of collaboration and synergy among all stakeholders. The successful implementation of the NSDS relies on your expertise, dedication, and commitment. We must work together to build a robust and responsive statistical system that supports the aspirations and well-being of our people.
I encourage everyone present today to actively engage in the discussions, share your insights, and contribute towards the production of the NSDS, 2024-2028. Your inputs are invaluable, and it is through your collective efforts that we will chart a path towards a stronger and more responsive Nigerian Statistical System. He said.
In his keynote address the Statistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, stated that the consultative meeting, was meant to harvest ideas and valuable contributions towards the drafting of the third phase of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics.
He observed that statistics was “the silent language of governance, and the underpinnings of a robust, informed, and thriving society. because they form the bedrock upon which policies and programmes are shaped, resources allocated, and progress assessed or evaluated”. Hence the vital need for a robust strategy to guide the growth and development of the system that produces the statistics that government relies on.
According to him, the new National Strategy for the Development of Statistics in Nigeria will serve as our guiding light, “steering us towards a modernised and transformed statistical system.
