RSG Tasks NSA On Accurate Population Data

The Rivers State Government,has urged the Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) on the production of accurate population data for the state.

The commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon Gogo Levi Charles who gave the charge in his office yesterday during a courtesy call by the Rivers State chapter of the association also said that the government would soon inaugurate the state bureau of statistics.

Hon Charles said that the government needed accurate data not only on the state population density, but, other issues for  planning.

He said that the state government was presently sourcing for qualified personnel to man the proposed Bureau of Statistics, pointing out that it was the wish of the government that the bureau when established must be result-oriented.

The commissioner who thanked the association for the visit, however said that its leadership had a herculean task of sensitising the people on the importance of accurate data in the planning process of not only the state, but the entire nation.

The state chairman of the association, Mr Ogbugo Emmanuel said that the association was worried over the delay in the constitution of the Bureau of Statistics against the background that the bill for its  establishment was assented to by the governor since 2010.

Emmanuel also stressed the need for a coaster bus for the NSA while further appealing for an audience with the governor.

He said that the courtesy call was meant to identify with the commissioner on his reappointment by the governor.

Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajimogu, Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly (left) chatting with Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Christain Oboh, when the speaker and other members of the House paid a courtesy call on the NDDC boss in Port Harcourt, yesterday.