CISON President Urges FG on Census, Reintroduction of Statistics in Sec School Curricula
By Ewache Ajefu
Dr Godday Uwawunkonye Ebuh, President of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON), has urged the Federal Government to urgently conduct the population and housing census, reintroduce statistics as a subject in secondary schools and strengthen statistical institutions across the country.
Ebuh made the call at the third International Conference of CISON and the 50th anniversary celebration of the group in Abuja .
The conference, which runs from October 14 to 16, has the theme, “From Legacy to Leadership: 50 Years of Statistical Development in Nigeria.”
He urged the government to establish functional state bureaus of statistics in all 36 states of the federation to complement the work of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and improve the availability of reliable data for planning and development.He called for the inclusion of CISON in the accreditation of statistics programmes in tertiary institutions, as well as the placement of data science programmes in statistics departments, arguing that statistics forms a substantial part of data science education.
According to him, Nigeria must strengthen its statistical capacity to compete effectively in an increasingly data-driven world.
He said “A nation that wants to compete in a data-driven world must begin by teaching its young people not merely to consume numbers, but to question, interpret and use them responsibly,”
He canvassed for increased funding, Independence of Statistical Institutions, also stressing the need for governments at the federal, state and local levels to recognise statistical development as essential infrastructure for effective governance rather than a peripheral administrative responsibility.
He urged governments to provide adequate and predictable funding for the national statistical system, protect the professional and operational independence of statistical institutions, recruit and retain qualified statisticians, and modernise data infrastructure.He also called for improved coordination among government agencies, secure data exchange and timely public access to credible statistics.
According to him, effective planning and governance depend on the availability of accurate, timely and reliable data, adding that “No government can credibly plan what it does not measure, manage what it does not understand or improve what it refuses to examine,”
To translate these recommendations into measurable outcomes, the CISON president proposed a high-level, time-bound government programme for statistical development, backed by clear responsibilities, dedicated funding and transparent performance targets.
He further urged ministries, departments and agencies to establish appropriate data systems, appoint competent statistical personnel and comply with common standards for data quality, interoperability, confidentiality and dissemination.
Ebuh said CISON was prepared to support the process by helping to establish professional standards, strengthen capacity and independently assess progress.
Ebuh said statistics had played an important role in helping Nigeria measure development, identify disparities and allocate limited resources more effectively.He noted that population and household data, national accounts, price indices and statistics covering agriculture, health, education, labour, trade and public finance remained essential to evidence-based policymaking.However, he said the availability of data alone was insufficient without the political will, institutional capacity and discipline required to translate statistical evidence into action.
“The crucial question is no longer whether Nigeria has data, but whether we have the will, capacity and discipline to use it wisely and promptly,” he said.
He urged statisticians to move beyond their traditional roles and take a more active part in national decision-making, particularly as digital technology, spatial analysis and artificial intelligence continue to transform how data is collected, analysed and applied.
According to him, statisticians must demonstrate accuracy, integrity, transparency and the courage to present evidence, even when the findings are inconvenient.
The CISON president also emphasised the importance of strengthening statistical institutions at the subnational level, noting that development challenges are often best understood through reliable data collected within communities.
He said the establishment of functional state bureaus of statistics would help address data gaps and provide more detailed information to guide development policies and programmes.Without strong subnational statistical systems, he warned, national averages could conceal the needs of communities requiring uCISON President Seeks Urgent Census, Reintroduction of Statistics in Secondary Schoolsrgent government intervention.
Ebuh urged state governments to prioritise statistical development and ensure that reliable data was available to support planning, resource allocation and monitoring of development outcomes.Conference to Drive Measurable Reforms.
The CISON president challenged participants at the conference to move beyond discussions and produce concrete recommendations capable of improving Nigeria’s statistical system.He called on delegates to develop clear commitments, realistic timelines and measurable targets, while encouraging stronger partnerships among government institutions, academic organisations, development partners and statistical professionals.He said the conference should serve as a catalyst for stronger institutions, better policies and more inclusive development.
