The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is responsible for the organization, leadership and coordination of national statistical work and national economic accounting. It's the main National Agency responsible for the development and management of official statistics, the authoritative source and custodian of official statistics in Nigeria.
The Bureau came into being with the merger of the Federal Office of Statistics (FOS) and the National Data Bank (NDB). The creation was part of the implementation of the Statistical Master Plan (SMP), a programme document of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN).
The merger was to give the agency a national outlook as the apex statistical agency for all the three tiers of Government.
Brief History of Nigerian Statistical System
Nigerian Statistical System is believed to have started in 1928 when the Department of Statistics was located in the Cabinet Office and headed by a Government Statistician with direct access to the Colonial Secretary.
In 1947, the Department of Statistics was merged with the Statistical Unit of the Department of Customs and Excise to form a new body called Nigeria Statistical Office (NSO). The NSO operated a centralised system under a unitary system of government. However, the country began to operate a federal system under the Richard Constitution of 1954. The constitution gave autonomy to the three regional governments – Northern, Eastern and Western regions with the Federal Government at the centre. Consequently, the respective governments became involved in the statistics that pertain to their areas of jurisdiction. This development led to the establishment of the regional statistical offices thus paving the way for the decentralised statistical system in the country.
The Four Areas of Reforms Covered by the NBS
i. Infrastructure and Equipment
ii. Human Resource Management and Development
iii. Improved Data Production Methodology
iv. Data Management, Dissemination and Access.
Breakdown of National Bureau of Statistics Governing Board Members
6 Political members from each of the six geo-political zone of the country appointed by the President and approved and confirmed by the senate.
9 Institutional members. The members are
- The Minister of National Planning Commission or his Representative
- Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria or his Representative
- The Minister of Finance or his Representative
- The Minister of Agriculture or his Representative
- The Minister of Education or his Representative
- The group Managing Director NNPC or his Representative
- The President Manufacturer Association of Nigeria or his Representative
- The President of Nigeria Statistical Association
- Statistician General and Chief Executive of the NSO as the secretary
The Chairman of the Board is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister of National Planning Commission.
Departments in National Bureau of Statistics
1. Corporate Planning and Technical Coordination
2. Demographic and Social Statistics
3. Macro-Economic Statistics
4. Real Sector and Household Statistics
5. Field Services and Methodology
6. Finance and Accounts
7. Administration
8. Information and Communication Technology
Units in National Bureau of Statistics
1. Legal
2. Research and Policy Analysis
3. Internal Audit
4. Project Implementation Task Team
5. Public Affairs and International Relations
6. SERVICOM
7. Anti-Corruption and Transparency
Zonal Offices
1. South West - Ibadan
2. South East - Enugu
3. South South - Calabar
4. North West - Kaduna
5. North Central - Jos
6. North East - Maiduguri
30 Important Statistical Acronyms
1. NSDS: National Strategy for the Development of Statistics
2. HDI: Human Development Index
3. PRSs: Poverty Reduction Strategy
4. MDGs: Millennium Development Goals
5. STPA: Statistical Training Programme for Africa
6. ECA: Economic Commission for Africa
7. NSS: National Statistical System
8. PARIS21: Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century
9. AfDB: African Development Bank
10. ASSD: African Symposium on Statistical Development
11. FOS: Federal Office of Statistics
12. PRSDs: Planning, Research and Statistics Departments
13. NISER: Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research
14. CEAR: Centre for Econometric and Allied Research
15. FIIO: Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi
16. FSS: Federal School of Statistics
17. NCCS: National Consultative Committee on Statistics
18. IGR: Internally Generated Revenue
19. SMP: Statistical Master Plan
20. NACS: National Advisory Committee on Statistics
21. NCB: National Census Board
22. CSRD: Civil Service Reforms Decree
23. NDB: National Data Bank
24. LOGIS: Local Government Information System
25. SDBs: Sectoral Data Banks
26. NSIS: National Statistical Information System
27. NSO: National Statistical Office
28. MDAs: Ministries, Departments and Agencies
29. SSAs: State Statistical Agencies
30. LGCs: Local Government Councils
