RSG Partners UNDP On Good Governance

The Rivers State
Government says it is collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with renewed vigour to institute measures that would obliterate impediments surrounding effective and proper research and statistical data coordination for effective governance and planning in Rivers State.
The representative of the UNDP in the office of the Special Adviser to Governor Amaechi on International Donors Agency, Mr. Luke Amadi stated this yesterday in a key note address at a one-day validation workshop on “Draft – Frame Work for Local Government Statistics Information System” organized by the Rivers State Government in collaboration with UNDP in Port Harcourt.
According to him, poor research and statistical data coordination is responsible for poor governance and ineffective planning in Nigeria local governments system.
He said, proper research and data collection at the grassroot levels have been neglected for years back, hence there is no accurate data reports like population of school children, death rate, birth rate, geographical sizes, the actual working class – population among others at the local levels of the country.
Amadi blamed the situation on the effective and poor development planning in the country’s local government areas.
The state representative identified the pursuit of selfish goals among politicians as one of the major challenges confronting real data coordination for proper planning in the country.
He said, the workshop was aimed at adopting new approaches for effective research and statistical data coordination at the local government levels, noting that informations flow from local levels to states and to the federal levels for proper policy making has become imperative.
The UNDP representative restated the need to rise beyond the challenges of underdevelopment in the country.
He called and canvassed strong synergy and networking system to ensure that statistical data at various local government levels are enforced for sustainable development and good governance.
Also speaking the Director of Budget, Planning and Research department, Port Harcourt City Council, rev. G.B. Jenewari called on the state House of Assembly to enact a law to elevate the Research and statistics Unit to a full fledged department with a director to manage its affairs.
Jenewari said Research and Statistics Unit which is currently under the department of Budget, Planning and Research at the local government levels does not guarantee effective functional Statistical data Cordination for Planning and development of the state, particularly the local levels.
He said, the combination of the three separate disciplines as one department at local government areas does not allow work to function effectively.

Enoch Epelle

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan discussing with Secretary, Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, Dr Akilu Indabawa and the Chairman, Senator Femi Okurounmu, in Abuja, recently.