Lawmakers seek NBS autonomy to improve data quality
The National Bureau of Statistics is moving towards achieving financial independence as legislators advocate for reforms aimed at bolstering the agency’s autonomy and enhancing the credibility of national data.Rep. Gboyega Isiaka, the Chairman of the House Committee on National Planning, stated that the committee's focus is on ensuring sufficient funding, transparency, and public trust in NBS statistics to support Nigeria’s development strategies.
“The proposed legislation is intended to strengthen the financial independence of the NBS, reducing its dependence on government budget allocations,” Isiaka noted.
One significant reform being considered is the creation of a National Tax Trust Fund, which would enable stakeholders who benefit from NBS data to contribute to ongoing funding. This initiative would allow the bureau to gather data directly from private sector organizations, thus broadening NBS’s coverage and reliability.
Isiaka highlighted that financial independence is essential for producing timely and accurate data without delays caused by budget constraints. The current NBS Act, introduced in 1957 and most recently amended in 2007, is outdated and creates funding challenges that undermine the bureau’s effectiveness. The reform bill, which has successfully undergone its First Reading, aims to revamp the existing structure.
Rep. Mike Jurry, Chairman of Liberia’s Ways, Means, and Finance Committee, praised Nigeria’s advancements in enhancing its statistical frameworks.
“With around 5.2 million citizens, and Nigeria boasting over 200 million, the contrast illustrates why we seek to learn from Nigeria’s more advanced infrastructure and statistical systems,” Jurry remarked.
Nigeria’s Statistician-General, Semiu Adeniran, provided an update to the Liberian lawmakers regarding the latest NBS developments and the involvement of Nigeria’s National Planning Committee in advocating for reforms.
The Federal Government has reiterated its pledge to uphold NBS independence, ensuring the agency operates without external interference.
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