By Chinyere Anyanwu

The National Consultative Committee of Statistics (NCCS) has restated its commitment to providing adequate and  reliable data to enhance policy making for the nation’s economic growth.

The committee made the commitment at its ongoing 2nd Bi-Annual Meeting 2022 holding in Lagos with the theme, “The Direct Implication of Sectorial Statistics in Curbing Inflation”.

Delivering his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the two-day programme, the Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer, National Bureau of Statistics, Prince Semiu Adeyemi Adeniran, harped on the importance of giving the country a system of statistics that will equip policymakers to deliver on their assignments.

Adeniran said the meeting, “will not only seek to provide updates and harmonise our statistical activities, but more importantly, have very frank discussions and reflexions on how to move the statistical system in Nigeria forward, with each member, playing their respective parts.”

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The Statistician General of the Federation stated that, “in critical moments like these when government and policymakers at different levels are seeking for ways and means to mitigate the effect of inflation and assist households to maintain their consumption levels, adequate and reliable data is extremely crucial. At the Bureau, we have been working hard to support government along these lines.”

He charged participants to take advantage of the meeting/training programme, saying, “we have to be alive to this responsibility and obligation, and deliver on our mandate. We must also take deliberate steps to enhance our individual and collective technical capacities, and develop the skills and competencies required of a modern statistician in this 21st Century.”

In his remarks at the event, the Chairman of the Governing Board, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr. Kabiru Nakaura, noted that, “the need for good and reliable statistics in every society, and across all tiers of government, for informed decision and policy-making is indisputable.”

He added: “I am aware of the daunting responsibilities and challenges facing the NCCS in the performance of this crucial task,” assuring of the Bureau’s Governing Board’s continued “support to the Statistician-General and the team of NBS Directorate and staff towards building capacity at State Bureaus of Statistics, Planning Research & Statistics Departments and Local Government Areas.”