Statistical conference: Association urges Buhari to sign CISON Bill into law

The Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) has appealed to
President Muhammadu Buhari, to sign the Chartered Institute of
Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON) Bill into law.

The bill has been passed by the National Assembly for more than
two years but has not been signed by the President.

The National Secretary of NSA, Dr Olatunji Arowolo, made the
call in an interview on Thursday in Lagos.

Arowolo spoke on the sideline of a three-day maiden edition of
International Statistical Conference, organised by NSA.

He said that the association would transit from NSA to CISON,
once the bill received the endorsement of the president.

“The association is seeking for CISON because we have found out
that most people working in the field of statistics are not
statisticians.

“For you to be engaged in production of statistics, you have to
go through this institute, whether you are a statistician or not;
we still have to re-train you.

“It is just like what is obtainable in accounting profession,
whereby professionals are chartered and they have a professional
body – the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria
(ICAN).

“Most people don’t have degree in accounting but they are made
to go through the institute so that they will be able to practise
as an accountant,’’ he said.

Similarly, the official said NSA wanted to have CISON to train
statisticians very well because if wrong data is giving, then you
will get wrong results.

He, however, advocated autonomy for the National Bureau of
Statistics (NBS), adding that the bureau should be independent.

“It is still under Ministry of Budget and National Planning and
that doesn’t secure its autonomy because of that, they are lacking
funds.

“ If NBS doesn’t have enough funds, how will it process data
effectively and achieve its mandate of coordinating statistical
activities in the country?”

He said there should be a separate budget line for NBS such as
South Africa that had a separate budget for its Bureau of
Statistics.

Meanwhile, the official said the conference was first of its
kind since the association was established over 40 years ago,
adding that NSA had not had any international conference.

The theme of the conference is “Positioning National Statistical
Systems for Data Revolution and Inclusive Development’’.

He said that the reality of data revolution appeared to be
posing serious challenges to national statistical systems.

He, however, said that the outcome of the meeting would be
presented to policy makers to assist them in repositioning the
statistical systems.

In addition, he said that the organisation had organised a
two-day pre-conference workshop for its members prior to the
commencement of the international conference.

“The membership consists those who are academics and
non-academics.

“ Pre-conference workshop is meant to train members on the
latest statistical tools for data analysis and production,’’ he
said.

NAN reports that the conference is being organised in
collaboration with the Lagos State Bureau of Statistics and the
Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.

It will create forum for exchange of best practices among
participating national statistical offices.

It will also create forum for exchange of knowledge among
institutions, academicians, professionals and stakeholders from
within Nigeria and abroad. (NAN)

The Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) has appealed to
President Muhammadu Buhari, to sign the Chartered Institute of
Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON) Bill into law.

The bill has been passed by the National Assembly for more than
two years but has not been signed by the President.

The National Secretary of NSA, Dr Olatunji Arowolo, made the
call in an interview on Thursday in Lagos.

Arowolo spoke on the sideline of a three-day maiden edition of
International Statistical Conference, organised by NSA.

He said that the association would transit from NSA to CISON,
once the bill received the endorsement of the president.

“The association is seeking for CISON because we have found out
that most people working in the field of statistics are not
statisticians.

“For you to be engaged in production of statistics, you have to
go through this institute, whether you are a statistician or not;
we still have to re-train you.

“It is just like what is obtainable in accounting profession,
whereby professionals are chartered and they have a professional
body – the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria
(ICAN).

“Most people don’t have degree in accounting but they are made
to go through the institute so that they will be able to practise
as an accountant,’’ he said.

Similarly, the official said NSA wanted to have CISON to train
statisticians very well because if wrong data is giving, then you
will get wrong results.

He, however, advocated autonomy for the National Bureau of
Statistics (NBS), adding that the bureau should be independent.

“It is still under Ministry of Budget and National Planning and
that doesn’t secure its autonomy because of that, they are lacking
funds.

“ If NBS doesn’t have enough funds, how will it process data
effectively and achieve its mandate of coordinating statistical
activities in the country?”

He said there should be a separate budget line for NBS such as
South Africa that had a separate budget for its Bureau of
Statistics.

Meanwhile, the official said the conference was first of its
kind since the association was established over 40 years ago,
adding that NSA had not had any international conference.

The theme of the conference is “Positioning National Statistical
Systems for Data Revolution and Inclusive Development’’.

He said that the reality of data revolution appeared to be
posing serious challenges to national statistical systems.

He, however, said that the outcome of the meeting would be
presented to policy makers to assist them in repositioning the
statistical systems.

In addition, he said that the organisation had organised a
two-day pre-conference workshop for its members prior to the
commencement of the international conference.

“The membership consists those who are academics and
non-academics.

“ Pre-conference workshop is meant to train members on the
latest statistical tools for data analysis and production,’’ he
said.

NAN reports that the conference is being organised in
collaboration with the Lagos State Bureau of Statistics and the
Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.

It will create forum for exchange of best practices among
participating national statistical offices.

It will also create forum for exchange of knowledge among
institutions, academicians, professionals and stakeholders from
within Nigeria and abroad. (NAN)