Bauchi sets up structure for data-driven governance

Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi

The Bauchi State government has inaugurated a 40-member consultative committee to foster data-driven and well-informed government policies.

The Secretary to the State Government, Aminu Hammayo, on Thursday while speaking during the inauguration, explained that the committee, under the State Bureau of Statistics, would examine the statistical programmes of the various agencies annually to achieve greater coordination and avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts, and evolve a state statistics programme.

Hammayo also charged the Committee to develop strategies that will ensure uniform standards and methodology amongst the various agencies to improve the quality, comparability, and timeliness of their statistical outputs.

“The role of statistics in governance cannot be overstated. It serves as the backbone of our planning processes and the yardstick by which we measure progress. We must therefore ensure that statistical integrity is maintained at all times, and that the insights derived from this data are used to craft policies that resonate with the needs and aspirations of the people,” he said.

He implored the committee to embrace the values of transparency, accuracy, and integrity while discharging their duties. “You are entrusted with an immense responsibility, and we have full confidence in your ability to guide the State Bureau of Statistics in the fulfillment of its mandate.

“The commitment of the State Executive Governor to continue supporting initiatives that foster data-driven governance, transparency, and accountability. This is just the beginning of a new chapter in our state’s developmental journey, and together, we will solidify the foundation for a future that is not only prosperous but also fair, equitable, and inclusive and on the whole justified by evidence.”

The members of the committee were drawn from directorates of research, planning, and statistics of different ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), higher institutions, and the Federal Road Safety Corps, amongst others.