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By Frances Nwabufoe
The Statistician General and Managing Director, Anambra State Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Obiora Obiabunmo has reiterated his commitment in ensuring that data collection is digitalized in Anambra State, noting that he is focused on changing the existing manual submission and collation of data since assumption of duty as they have affected the timeliness and consistency of data.
The Statistician General said this before the House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation at House of Assembly complex, Awka during the Assembly’s oversight meeting on the 2022/2023 Quarterly Performance Appraisal with the Anambra State Bureau of Statistics.
Mr. Obiabunmo noted that the Bureau is currently working with the Anambra State Information and Communication Technology Agency and Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to develop a digital platform that would allow for digital collection, collation and analysis of data from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.
He added that such platform would enable the MDAs to log in from their offices and upload their data while the Bureau validates, analyses and publishes for general use.
“While working towards the digitization of data collection and analysis, the Bureau has already started data collection from MDAs to update from 2019 till date to upgrade the database of the state.
The Statistician General added that the Bureau sensitized Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) staff last December on the importance of data for development planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, noting that the essence was to ensure that every activity of MDAs is documented and sent to the Bureau for analysis and dissemination.
He stated that proper data generation would attract investment to the state, noting that it was one of the reasons why the Bureau engaged the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Ms. Chiamaka Nnake, the Managing Director of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency, Mr. Mark Okoye, the Director-General of Strategy, Evaluation and Execution, Mr. Emma Onyilofor as guest speakers during the data sensitization meeting hosted by the Bureau.
“The Bureau intends to engage in such quarterly meetings to ensure that the PRS staff are abreast of the need of quality data.
Speaking on the Bureau’s external relations, Mr. Obiabunmo explained that the Bureau has reached out to development partners to fund some of the activities of the Bureau as well as work with some states who already benefit from these partners to see how more partners can be attracted to the state.
Earlier, the Chairman, Committee on Finance and Appropriation and member representing Anambra East constituency, Mr. Obinna Emeneka explained that the essence of the meeting was to appraise the performance of the Bureau so far since its 2023 budget defense and subsequent approval by the House.
“This is an appraisal of your quarterly performance. We want to know your activities as contained in your budget and what you have been able to achieve since the passage of the 2023 budget.
At the end of the presentation by the Statistician General, the House Committee enjoined the Bureau to maintain its current pace and ensure its actualization of high percentage of the budget as presented to the House before their next appraisal.
The presentation was attended by key officials of the Bureau and involved report on cash flow from March 2022 to date, list of capital projects executed or ongoing, amount released and outstanding, level of work already done, payment vouchers, evidence of conformity with Procurement Law of Anambra State and others.