The mission of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is to generate, on a continuous and sustainable basis, socio-economic statistics on all facets of development in Nigeria. This core mission underpins the organization's role in providing vital data for national planning, policy formulation, and informed decision-making across various sectors.
Understanding the Core Purpose
The mission statement outlines the fundamental responsibilities and operational scope of the National Bureau of Statistics. It emphasizes several key aspects crucial to its function:
- Generating Socio-economic Statistics: The primary output is data related to social and economic aspects of the nation. This includes, but is not limited to, statistics on population, economy, health, education, labor, poverty, and other indicators of human and national development.
- Continuous and Sustainable Basis: This highlights the long-term commitment and reliability expected from the Bureau. Data collection and dissemination are not one-off events but an ongoing process, ensuring consistency and availability of up-to-date information over time. Sustainability implies the capacity and resources to maintain this operation effectively.
- All Facets of Development: The scope of data collection is comprehensive, covering every angle of national development. This ensures that a holistic view of the country's progress, challenges, and opportunities can be formed.
- In Nigeria: The geographical focus of the mission is clearly defined, emphasizing the Bureau's commitment to serving the data needs specific to the Nigerian context.
The Role of a National Statistical Office
A national statistical office like the NBS plays a crucial role in a country's governance and development framework. Its mission is vital for:
- Evidence-Based Policymaking: Providing reliable statistics enables governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to formulate policies, strategies, and interventions based on facts rather than assumptions.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Data allows for tracking progress against national development goals, evaluating the impact of programs, and identifying areas that require more attention or different approaches.
- Transparency and Accountability: Accessible and trustworthy statistics promote transparency in governance and hold public institutions accountable for their actions and results.
- Informing Research and Development: Researchers, academics, and innovators rely on official statistics to conduct studies, identify trends, and contribute to knowledge.
Key Aspects of the NBS Mission
The table below summarizes the critical components of the National Bureau of Statistics' mission:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| What | Generation of socio-economic statistics. |
| How | Conducted on a continuous and sustainable basis, ensuring long-term reliability and consistency of data collection and dissemination. |
| Scope | Covers all facets of development, providing comprehensive data across various sectors of the nation. |
| Where | Focused specifically on the data needs and context in Nigeria. |
This mission ensures that Nigeria has the foundational data required to understand its current state, plan for the future, and measure its journey towards national development goals.
