Building the Nigerian Statistical System Capacity for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in the New Millennium

Abstract

Reducing poverty in developing countries like Nigeria fundamentally depends on the efforts of government at all levels, especially in carrying out the implementation of  institutional reforms needed to improve economic performance and evidence-based policy decision process necessary for jobs creation, social services delivery and improvement of quality of life. After examining the state of Nigerian Statistical System (NSS) and the challenges its faces in the provision of timely, and reliable information for poverty reduction strategies and other developmental indicators required for monitoring and evaluating progress, we recommend the development of grassroots statistics, data collection methodology and group support system (GSS) to monitor and evaluate performance of poverty reduction and crucial developmental programmes. Finally, the implementation of the paradigm will contribute towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Keywords: Poverty Reduction, NSS, MDGs, Grassroots Statistics, Data Collection Methodology, GSS.