DISCUSSANT’S REPORT ON “DIALOGUE BETWEEN PRODUCERS AND USERS OF
STATISTICS” BY MR. KAYODE OBASA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR (MACRO), NATIONAL
PLANNING COMMISSION, ABUJA NIGERIA AT AFRISTAT REGIONAL WORKSHOP,
BAMAKO MALI 23RD-25TH JUNE 2014
A.
Introduction
 I would like to begin by thanking the representative of National Bureau
of Statistics (NBS) for taking us through Nigeria’s experience on
users/producers of official statistical data dialogue/ The NBS is a
parastatal of National Planning Commission, hence we have a cordial
working relationship.
 The topic of discussion is most appropriate and relevant to planners and
decision makers
Particularly now that development planning has taking its pride of
place in Nigeria’s development process in the areas of:
 Plan development
 Decision making/ formulation of development goals/policy
choices
 Monitoring and evaluating economic and social progress
 This shows the need to ensure effective integration of statistical activity
within the strategic planning framework
 Nigeria is doing well in this direction but there is still room for
improvement
To ensure that we have credible and timely statistical data to
support our development process
Particularly in the areas of:
 Macroeconomic aggregates
 Demographic and Social aggregates
 Environmental statistics
 Governance
 Infrastructure/Competitiveness
B.
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Strategic Planning Framework in Nigeria
Nigeria Vision 20:2020 doubles as Nigeria’s vision and long term
development planning and by extension, the plan which is our PRSP.
Objective is to reposition Nigeria among the top 20 economies in the
world by 2020
Anchored on 2 specific targets
GDP of not less than US$900 billion
Per capita of income of not less than US$4,000
NV20:2020 is to be implemented through three medium-term
development strategic plans (i.e., 1st,2nd and 3rd NIPs)
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Including the Transformation Agenda (2011-2015), which is the
Federal Government Plan for actualizing the NV20:2020 and 1st NIP
 Key goals and priorities of the strategic Plans include
Job creation
Poverty alleviation
Strong, inclusive and non-inflationary GDP growth
Fiscal consolidation and optimisation
 The country has also developed NIIMP (2014-2043) and NIRP, including
other sectoral plans
With key quantifiable macroeconomic and sectoral deliverables
Underscores the need to ensure effective integration of statistical
program and development plans
It means that for our development planning to be effective, the
statistical system must make available for planning a wellintegrated mass of accurate and timely data
The NSDS has been mainstreamed into the vision to take care of
the data requirements of the plans.
C. Major Instruments of Dialogue and Consultation on Statistics between
producers and users
 National Committee on Statistics
Serves as a consultative body and a coordination of statistical
activities
Monitoring and evaluation
Dialogue and consultation between producers and users
 National Statistical Programme
An instrument for the integration of statistical activity within the
framework of the national development plan
Statistical programme must be submitted to planners and decision
makers
It is also an instrument of dialogue
This means that the national statistical programme/activity should
be a synthesis of dialogue and consultation between users and
statistical producers
It means that development plan and national statistical
programme/activity must have the same priorities and same
objectives (a prove of the existence of effective dialogue)
D.
Nigeria’s Experience on the Dialogue between Producers and Users of
Statistics
 Fair dialogue is found to have existed between the planners/users and
producers of official statistics
 The NV20:2020, 1st NIP, TA, NIIMP, NIRP, Sector Plans, M&E of
policies/programmes and projects, and Plan reviews made use of
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available statistics produced by the NBS, and other Ministries,
Departments and Agencies as the need arises.
Deepened our dialogue with the producers of statistics in Nigeria
Our inputs to the statistical program have helped to align statistical
activity and the development plans in the areas of objectives, priorities
and timelines
Results of this dialogue are evidenced with the development,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of our various development
plans (NV20:2020, 1st NIP, TA, NIIMP, NIRP and Sector Plans)
We still have problems with baseline data particularly on some key
sectors especially the social statistics.
The TA monitoring requirements have provided a significant challenge
for statistical producers
Social issues and concerns were not given sufficient attention in national
statistics
Quite obvious during the TA, 1st NIP review and development of
KPIs for monitoring and evaluation
Today employment data are generated on both quarterly and
annual basis to enable us assess progress in this direction
Need for more investment/funding data production
The Statistical Agencies need to be strengthened for the dialogue to be
effective
Some of the data generated currently are highly aggregated
Does not allow us to plan/measure progress on daily, monthly and
quarterly basis; for example the National GDP, Investment, etc
Many data are generated but very few are useful to develop and measure
progress – Most of the Targets in our 1st NIP and the TA are not totally
captured in the NSDS.
Need for statistical agencies to look inward (development plans,
etc)
We are working to eliminate inconsistency in data from different sources
Need to strengthen methodology for generating certain aggregates to
ensure accuracy
e.g gross capital formation
Private consumption expenditure, etc
Role for Official Statistics Producers and Users
 Need to work closely with NPC and State Planning Commissions
 Key roles to play in M&E
Tracking the KPIs
Initiating the process for completing template on scorecards of
MDAs
Data gathering and disaggregation
Establishment of data gaps in the Development Plans and identify
areas for survey and research
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Facilitate the conduct of baseline studies
Undertake offsite monitoring, especially on the output indicator
 Enhanced advocacy by the official statistics producers
 Need to sustain or increase the interaction with users on regular basis
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