The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI have agreed on exchange of data and coordination for national development.
This is the outcome of the meeting in Abuja, the nation’s capital between NEITI Executive Secretary, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji and Statistician-General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran at the weekend.
The Memorandum of Understanding will however define rules of engagement on data sharing and management, access and deployment and measures to strengthen the integrity of data.
The agreement will also outline areas of mutual cooperation between NEITI and NBS on training and manpower development, improvement of information technology (IT) systems and development of frameworks to enhance operational efficiency.
NEITI Executive Secretary explained that cooperation and partnership with agencies like NBS has become necessary to ensure uniformity and standards on data dissemination, originating from the two agencies especially at the sub-national levels, for use in Nigeria and to the outside world.
“This meeting is to create opportunities to discuss and agree on how NEITI can support NBS with data from the extractive industries while NBS supports NEITI’s expansion of its operations to socio-economic development issues arising from oil, gas and mining operations in Nigeria”.
The Statistician-General of the Federation affirmed that the NBS works with Ministries, Departments, Agencies, MDAs and Development Partners to generate different types of data sets that are being used for economic, social and environmental development.
Adeniran emphasised the unique nature of the two agencies based on their brand names, integrity and credibility of their work. He cautioned that this must be protected at all cost because they are accountable to the Nigerian people.
He expressed the willingness of the NBS to support and collaborate with NEITI to enthrone a regime of transparency and accountability in the nation’s extractive sector.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
