A consultant to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Prof. Vincent Akinyosoye, yesterday said that the office assembled over 60,000 variables in its updated compendium on statistics.
Akinyosoye, a lead consultant in the review of the compendium, said that the document aimed at producing administrative statistics in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Akinyosoye, a former Statistician-General of the Federation, told newsmen in Abuja that the variables would address the challenges of conflicting data in the country.
According to him, the Compendium of Statistical Terms and Framework for the Production of Administrative Statistics will also proffer solutions to harmonising data across the country.
NBS on July 22 held a two-day workshop to validate the compendium, to provide the platform for proper assessment of implementation of the document.
The workshop was aimed at providing the platform for assessment of the implementation of the statistics component of the EU Support to the Federal Government Public Service Reform Programme (EU-SUFEGOR).
“We assembled over 60,000 variables on which we can collect data from 1960 to available date.
“We collected the variables on all sectors of the economy from education to health, transportation to tourism and other sectors.
“ Government can use these data and individuals can use them to plan their business actions, monitor projects and evaluate performance in the system,’’ the statistician said.
Akinyosoye, however, identified lack of political will, inadequate funding and lack of manpower as the greatest challenges facing the statistical activities in MDAs.
He said that lack of political will from the managers of the MDAs had hindered the collation and dissemination of data in the offices.
“Once you have a Chief Executive or Manager that are interested in using data to manage the affairs of the MDAs, the production of data and use of data becomes less problems.
“ To follow it up, once the political head is interested, funding will be made available.
“Once funding is available, the next thing is to make manpower available and once everything is in place, there will be no problem.’’
The former statistician-general stressed the need to fund statistical activities, adding that funding the gathering of data would ensure effective planning.
“If you do not spend money on planning, no matter the money you spend on execution, it will not be successful,’’ he said.
According to him, the process of planning can be automated with the aid of Information Communication Technology (ICT).
“Before the evolution of ICT, it could take between four and five years to plan for a project but now we do not have to wait that long.
“We can automate the process and the planning for one or one and half years before you start any programme.
“ Most of our political leaders are anxious to deliver and as such, they do not plan properly.
“If we allow the public servants to do more of the planning, when new leaders come to implement will not be a problem,’’ he said.
Akinyosoye said that ICT could be used in all areas of data collection, production and data management.
“There are smart phones you can use in collecting and disseminating data.
“ICT is cost effective, faster and more convenient,’’ he said.
Our correspondent  reports that effective production of administrative statistics at MDAs is capable of satisfying about 70 per cent of data requirement in Nigeria.