FG Floats Inter-Ministerial Body on Data Collection, Harmonisation

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The Federal Government has set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee to harmonise data collection and evaluation for the country. 

Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said the Committee, headed by the Statistician General of the Federation and Director-General, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr Yemi Kale, is expected to address all issues arising from the public service’s poor data base.

Mrs Adeosun, who confirmed the development in Abuja on Monday, explained that the committee will serve as the clearing house and focal authority for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in data collection, authentication and publication. 

She also said the Committee will ensure national standards for data collection, evaluation and publication as well as regular provision of guidance to all MDAs and other stakeholders engage in data collection, analysis and publication for policy formulation, implementation and monitoring.

According to her, “The establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee has become imperative to develop the production of national statistics and avoid data production duplication.”

In a statement by Oluyinka Akintunde, Special Adviser, Media and Communications to the Minister stated that the committee is also expected to submit half-yearly reports to the Finance Minister, who is expected to brief Mr President appropriately.

The Committee members include: the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Alhaji Idris Ahmed; Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO), Ms. Patience Oniha; Director-General of Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Ben Akabueze; and representatives of the Federal Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Health, Agriculture and Rural Development, Labour and Productivity, Education, Communication Technology.

Others are: representatives of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF); Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN): Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR): Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); National Population Commission (NPC); Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); Nigerian Police Force (NPF);  and Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).