Why National Business Sample Survey Was Delayed For 20 Years-NBS

The lack of funding to implement the National Business Sample Census has been identified as a major reason the exercise has not been conducted in the last 20 years.

The Statistician General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, said this on Monday in Abuja at the Training of Trainers’ Programme for the National Business Sample Census.

The survey, according to the NBS boss has been approved to commence by next year.

The Business Census also known as an Economic Census is a statistical exercise that involves the enumeration of formal and informal business establishments across the country.

The economic census is conventionally conducted every 5 years,  following consensus by the United Nations Statistical Commission.

Kale who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the NBS said the census has not been conducted for over two decades, mainly due to the challenge of funding.

He said the government had in the past sought for different ways and means to actualize the economic census, owing to its importance to the country’s economy.

He said, “Our pursuit for this finally paid off thanks to the World Bank’s Fiscal Governance and Institutions Project, which graciously accommodated the Business Census, as well as the agricultural census, which we plan to conduct early next year.”

Kale said the exercise will involve the enumeration of formal and informal business establishments across the country and would be used to correct Nigeria’s over 20 years statistical anomaly. 

He said the Federal Government needed the right data to make economic decisions following the current economic challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NBS Boss noted that stakeholders and policymakers at all levels needed to be fully aware and support the exercise to get the anticipated result.

Kale said relevant technologies would be deployed during the World Bank sponsored census to enhance data quality.

He said, “We are migrating from the use of manual blocking and segmenting designated working areas to deploying the use of digital segments for effective location and demarcation of the working areas.

“The entire built up area in the country has been digitally carved into manageable segments and mapped out appropriately with numberings across all local governments and states.”

He described the innovation being adopted for the exercise as a significant step in the country’s quest for excellence and efficiency in statistical production.