Abuja – Mr Henry Eteama, consultant to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has identified effective development of Administrative Statistics as an effective way to curb corruption in the country.
Eteama, consultant on Statistical System Management, made the statement on Saturday in Abuja in an interview with the News agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said that lack of proper administrative data had been responsible for mismanagement of public funds in the country.
He said that for the country to embrace transparency, accountability and openness, administrative statistics must be developed.
“If administrative records are there and the proper information system is designed and the proper data base is created, there is no way our monies will be missing.
“There is no way somebody in any position could wake up to say N20 billion was missing and then said it was N12 billion and later, N36 billion.
“All these things are happening because the records are not being harnessed; if they are harnessed in statistical manner, people will be accountable,’’ he said.
Eteama said that the days of conducting manual surveys were over.
He added that with effective administrative statistics, the cumbersome process of queuing to verify credentials and other official documents would be eliminated.
The consultant urged the management of MDAs to invest in data generation to enhance sustainable planning in their organisations, saying such efforts would help them achieve their mandates.
Eteama said if the management of MDAs appreciated the way they could use data to achieve their mandates, they would adequately fund their statistical services.
According to him, funding statistical issues is a function of the commitment and interest of the leadership of MDAs.
“If they (leadership) are interested and they are keeping records, how comes we do not know how many barrel of oil we produce?
“Who is selling what and who is keeping what? Why are we having conflicting data from the highest authority on missing money?
“It is because the administrative records are defective,’’ he said.
The consultant said he had developed a framework for the Production of Administrative Statistics in MDAs for the NBS.
He said that the compendium had serious implications for strengthening the NBS so that it could provide professional leadership to individuals and MDAs.
He said that the areas of strength, weaknesses and opportunities of MDAs were profiled in the document. (NAN)