Data, Statistics Critical in Achieving SDG targets- Statistician General
Nigeria’s Statistician General, Mr Simon Harry has said that the provision of reliable statistics and data can help the government realise the targets set under the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Harry stated this at the two-day meeting of the National Consultative Committee on Statistics in Kano.
He said the provision of reliable statistical data can assist in tracking and monitoring progress being made in achieving the SDGs as well as Africa Agenda 2063.
He called on the National Consultative Committee on Statistics, which is the coordinating body of the Nigerian Statistical System (NSS) to help in providing effective and efficient statistical data on the country’s economy.
As professional Statisticians saddled with the responsibility of producing official statistics for the management of the nation’s economy, he said the role of the consultantive body was crucial to the overall development of the country.
Although he acknowledged the past achievements of the committee amid constraints, he said there were still enormous challenges ahead.
He said on assumption of office as the CEO of the NBS, his three-point agenda covered the areas of General Administration and Human Resource Management, Infrastructural Development and Technical Operations.
These thematic areas, he noted, were considered critical in rejuvenating, revamping, strengthening and repositioning the NBS in the short run to enable it effectively coordinate the country’s National Statistical System (NSS),a target, he said, has been achieved by about 75 percent.
To ensure sustained development of statistics in the country, Harry said the NBS designed a four–year Corporate Strategy for the period 2022 and 2025, to define a road map for improving the quantum and quality of statistics in the country.
