Budget Commissioner Harps On Realistic Data

The importance of realistic data as key ingredient for effective programme planning and implementation been emphasised.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Gogo Levi Charles stated this while declaring open a 10-Day exercise tagged “Up-load the State Social Economic Data into existing Data Base” at Grand Montecito Hotel, Port Harcourt.

The Commissioner further said that the exercise which was in collaboration with the UNICEF­Assisted programme in the State “will bring to our reach published socio-economic data we can make reference to in our developmental planning process”

The Commissioner maintained that such data would also provide indicators for measuring and reporting achievements in various sectors of the economy.

The Commissioner who was represented by his Special-Assistant, Ms Kellyba Whyte thanked the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s led-administration for signing this year’s Programme Implementation Agreement to partner with UNICEF and expressed the government’s determination to partner with agencies who have the interest of Rivers people at heart.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Awoye Halden Bob-Manuel enjoined the participants drawn from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to always plan with realistic facts and figures for fruitful result.

The Permanent Secretary urged the participants to adapt the knowledge already acquired through the Devlnfo Version 5.0 during the training of Data Managers to analyse Information.

The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director of Planning in the ministry, Mrs. Yapirika Nwankwo maintained that the Devlnfo contained well packaged software for good analysis and presentation of data in tables, graphs, charts and maps for easy comprehension and therefore urged the participants to ensure that their active participation in the workshop would bring out the best in them to enable them organise data base in their various ministries.

In his goodwill message the UNICEF-Assisted Planning Programme Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) in the state, Mr. G. O. Ikpe said the essence of the two-week exercise was to make data available to planners, the policy makers and other users for economic development purposes.