We Have Already Put A Machinery To Change The Narrative of NBS -Harry
By Daniel Agada, Jos
The newly appointed Statistician-General of the federation and Chief executive officer of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr. Simon Barsha Harry said that they have already put in place a machinery to change the narrative of the system.
Harry acknowledged that the sole mandate of NBS is that of producing statistics, and for me “we have already put in place a machinery to ensure that we consolidate on the achievement made by my predecessor and that is why even in our office today, you will discover that the continuances of the staff have completed change, people are very happy and report to work on time because the enabling environment has been created for them to be able to operate effectively.
“That is my target and once we achieve that and the enabling environment is there people can give their best to work for the system to move forward.”
Harry made this known on Sunday during a thanksgiving service titled:”celebration of God’s unending faithfulness” held in Jenger, Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State.
He said:” I consider this event as an appreciation to God Almighty for making it possible to get to this position of my carrier.
“Well, generally the statistician is very important office because there is no country or system that can develop without the application of relevant information as well as using to monitor and evaluate progress in the implementation of programmes.
“So every nation required robust and credible statistics for it to be able to develop.
“That is why as a country, the Government of Federal Republic of Nigeria consider it important as a highly technical, that is why I have been appointed to head the system, and indeed to provide the nation relevant statistics to inform decision making process.
“Well, for every appointment you get in life, such an appointment is meant for you to serve humanity. For me, this appointment is like throwing a challenge for me as I have a lot to do in serving humanity, by that I will serving my creator the Almighty God!
“So, I will serve to ensure that from my community down to my state and the entire country to justify why I was given this appointment and equally justify the good testimonies that people have been giving about my appointment and about my humble self”, he stated.
The NBS Boss, Simon Harry laments high rate of poor enrollment of children in schools, calling on Government to create means that would enable parents educate their wards.
“We are full of illiteracy as a country and what I want Government to do is to intensify priority on the area of awareness so that people will appreciate the importance of statistics.
“And, again, the issue of poverty ravaging the country at every level is because education enrollment is declining, people cannot sponsor their children to school anymore.
“So as much as possible Government should ensure that the educational system in Nigeria is made a lot cheaper, not necessarily free, but the poor man will be able to send his children to school, and also Government should ensure proper sensitization so that people can appreciate and understand that we cannot just develop in any meaningful life without educating yourself.
“You need to educate yourself,and the more Nigeria get educated the better for it development!
“And again, for us to develop as a country, we have to join hands together to ensure that every community, every household embraces education, and it is only by doing that Nigeria can join the comity of develop Nations”, Harry said.
