FEATURES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SECTORAL STATISTICS AND FACTORS AFFECTING SUSTAINABLE STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

O.O AJAYI

ADB CONSULTANT

JULY 11,2006

FEATURES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SECTORAL STATISTICS AND FACTORS AFFECTING SUSTAINABLE

STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

(A) FEATURES OF SECTORAL STATISTICS Sectors have no strategic plans of their own although NBS consulted

them when its strategic plan was being designed. Assessment of data needs, Human Resources and infrastructure was however not deep enough

Some sectors have annual programmes which have become routine(Agriculture, Education, Industry, as examples)while others have no programmes at all.

Nearly all the sectors have no budget for statistical activities except for occasional donor support for usually donor-designed programmes

Advocacy for the importance of statistics has been very low for the sectors, although at the center through NBS, advocacy has been effective as the President himself, now underlines the prime role of statistics in national development

Funds have not always been available to design sectoral plans. NBS is not yet actively co-coordinating the sectors and they(the

sectors) complained of not being informed/consulted on the activities and programmes being carried out by it and to which they should have been validly invited .

Development of management information system database of some sectors is still being seen as distinct from data production process itself that provides data that populates the database. Example is NHMIS.

Lack of professional staff(skilled) of the statistics branches of the sectors have been a usual feature of many sectors and that limits statistical development.

There is a tendency on the part of sector statistics branches at the federal level to want to coordinate statistical production across various levels of government(states, local government) in their respective sectors without the involvement of NBS and the central state statistical agencies. Examples are in the Agricultural, labour, employment and education sectors.

There is absence of internal coordination within the sectors leading to the fragmentation of statistics functions within the sector.Examples are in agriculture industry and health sectors

Decrees/laws on information generation by some operational departments of the sectors exist and this feature works against coordinated programmes with proper linkage with the NSDS

Most producers of statistics at the sectoral level are not familiar with the development frameworks and development policy process in their respective sectors leading to production of not too relevant statistics

Statistics should be well placed in the structure of the sectoral ministries for it to play leading role in the sectors which is not the case at the moment

The country offices of the international agencies seem not too concerned with overall statistical development but more focussed on merely requesting for statistics/indicators which may not be there. Moreover,they are generally not familiar with strategies for statistical development except for one or two of them.

FACTORS THAT CAN ENHANCE OVERALL COUNTRY NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF

STATISTICS (NSDS) IN A HOLISTIC WAY : NIGERIAN CASE

Return to common statistical service in the country so that the NSS could be better coordinated and also get a truly comprehensive NSDS to cover the whole NSS.

Advocacy at the sectoral level should be led by the NBS Professionalization of the statistics branch is an important factor to

enhance sector statistical development. An important factor for proper linkage of plans across levels of

government is an NBS/Sector coordinated approach at the Federal level for coordination of sector programmes at other levels of gorvernment through the state central statistical agencies

An effective within sector coordination is a strong factor for the sector level strategic statistical plan

The NBS while reviewing its statistical master plan should assist sectors in the development of strategies for statistical development at the sector level

All laws/ decrees must be harmonized so as to enhance coordination and linkage in statistical functions

Statistics producers at the sectors need familiarity and therefore training on policy and development processes.

Comprehensive assessment of the sector statistics branch including data needs assessment will form basis of drawing up an appropriate sector strategic plan for statistics.

Active coordination of the sectors by the NBS is seen as an important factor for statistical development in the sectors. Proper functioning of the federal agencies committee on statistics and the National Consultative Committee on Statistics is essential to achieve this.

NBS must have capacity for coordination and give strong leadership to the NSS.

Proper placement of statistics functions with sectoral ministries and Agencies is essential for sectoral statistical development

Harnessing ICT for statistical operations will enhance coordination and effective linkages in statistical development of the sectors