The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has begun training of its staff on food balance sheet in a bid to provide data on the demand and supply of food.
Prince Semiu Adeniran, the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer, NBS, said this on the sidelines of the training on Public Sector Management and Food Balance Sheet organised by the organisation in Abuja on Wednesday.
Adeniran said the training was designed for members of staff of the NBS to help them estimate the supply and demand of all types of food in the country.
“This training will help us to come up with accurate data that can inform the government on the availability of food.
“Also on whether there is any need for us to import any particular type of food item or whether we have all our food requirements in the right quantity that is needed.”
He said the training would also complement the analysis that the bureau would carry out for the annual agricultural sample census, which was ongoing.
“As you are aware, we are presently in the field doing the listing of all farmers in the country through all the 774 local governments.
“After the listing of farmers, we will do a sampling of them and collect survey to get information on the type of crops they grow, livestock; poultry, fishing and the production that comes from their farming activities.
” So when we are doing the analysis of that survey, this training will help us a lot in coming out with a robust report that the government can use for policies and decision making.”
Adeniran said the second training was on public sector management for staff of the bureau.
According to him, we feel that they have grown up in the system and there is a need to build their capacity to conduct public administration properly for government officials.
Speaking on the recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report, Adeniran said the bureau was working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to get the CPI re based.
According to him, it is also to ensure that some food products captured in the report will have appropriate weights.
The statistician-general said he was hopeful that by the end of the year or early 2023, the CPI will be rebased.
“For the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Report, this ongoing major agriculture sample census will be a major input to the rebasing of the GDP together with other surveys we have done, like the national business sample census as well as other administrative sources of data.
” So by the end of the year, we are hoping that the GDP will be rebased as well.”
Mr Ayo Salami, the Managing Director, COINMARK International Limited, said the focus of the training was to expose participants to the methodology regarding the preparation of food balance sheets.
Salami said FBS was a tool that depicts the overall trend in national food supply and demand and exposes any food deficits that may necessitate imports.
He said the FBS was useful in carrying out an appraisal to establish the food situation in any country through estimations and projections.
“Without accurate data for food production and utilisation, this government and any other successive government cannot properly plan to make provision for food sufficiency which has been the primary dream of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said to take Nigerians out of hunger, the application of FBS was germane and essential for sustainable food security.
“The food balance sheet provides a sound basis for the policy analysis and decision-making needed to ensure food security.
” It is, therefore, suggestable that the Federal Government should establish through an Act of Parliament a National Standing Committee or National Food Balance Sheet Forum.
Salami also recommended the creation of a Nigeria National Food Balance Sheet Standing Committee chaired and coordinated by the Statistician-General of the Federation.
He said the membership of this committee should be drawn from the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Agencies; Agricultural Research Institutes, CBN and universities.
Salami said the application and effective use of FBS will enhance the capacity of the government to diversify exports and increase its ability to earn forex.
He commended the effort of the Federal Government and particularly that of the security agencies in stemming the tides of insecurity, adding that a lot more needed to be done in that regard.
“Except government takes more drastic steps in addressing national security threats including terrorism, social unrests, banditry, kidnapping, political and ethnic strives, achieving food security will be a mirage.”
Reports have it that COINMAC is a veteran trainer noted globally for excellent service delivery in the areas of statistical services, human resources development, consultancy, information technology and high-quality research.
Bitrus Chinoko, the Director-General, Centre for Management Development(CMD), said the training was designed to equip the members of staff of NBS with requisite procedures in NBS and to explain the public service rules and financial regulations.
Chinoko, represented by Dorothy Esiri, a Director at the centre, said that it would help them develop skills to manage relationships and communicate effectively in their schedules.
According to him, the training will also equip them with managerial skills and personal effectiveness when conducting government business.
Chinoko said it was necessary to invest in good public sector management for the sustainability of government agencies.
Discussion about this post