Reliable statistical information has been described as a fundamental tool for effective governance as it provides the basis for identifying public needs, setting priorities, allocating resources, monitoring programmes and evaluating outcomes.

The Head of Service, Mr. Olanrewaju Saka made this known while declaring open a 2-day training programme for statisticians and statistical officers in the Ogun State civil service held at the Ogun State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency conference hall, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

Mr. Saka said that accurate and timely data are essential for informed decision making, effective policy formulation and improved public service delivery, these which he said placed considerable responsibility on statisticians and statistical officers whose professional competence directly influences the quality of information available to government.

He said that the training aligned with the efforts of the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun to build a more efficient, innovative and accountable civil / public service.

"Through the ISEYA development agenda, Governor Abiodun continues to pursue a competent and responsive public service capable of translating government policies and programmes into tangible benefits for the people. This requires strong institutions, and well equipped workforce and administrative processes that promote efficiency, accountability and measurable results across ministries, departments and agencies" Mr. Saka said.

The number one civil servant emphasized that reliable statistics are vital for assessing performance, identifying service delivery gaps and ensuring the judicious use of public resources and urged the participants to uphold the highest standard of accuracy, integrity and objectivity in their work while embracing modern statistical tools and digital technologies to enhance data management and ensure that statistical findings are clearly presented to support informed decision making across government by applying the knowledge acquired to improve data quality, statistical reporting and evidence based decision making in their respective ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs)

In their separate goodwill messages, the Permanent Secretaries, Civil Service Commission, Mr. Jola Oyeneye, Bureau of Service Matters, Mr. Oladipupo Ogunfowora and Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Abiola Ayodele urged the participants to equip themselves with the training and be ready to learn, relearn and unlearn and tap from the wealth of experience of resource persons invited to deliver lectures.

In her remarks, the State Statistician General, Mrs. Omolara Adebayo said the importance of the training can not be overemphasized as the quality of government policies and decisions depend largely on the availability of accurate, reliable, and timely data. 

Mrs. Adebayo said that the Bureau of Statistics remain committed to strengthening the Integrated System of Administrative Statistics (ISAS) across MDAS with support from the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) to ensure the systematic generation, management and timely availability of administrative data for planning, monitoring, evaluation and policy formulation and encouraged the participants to take full advantage of the training to improve their technical competence, data practices, and statistical reporting.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Establishments and Training, Mr. Akintomiwa Osibodu said that the programme is part of the government continued efforts to strengthen the capacity of officers for effective performance and improved public service delivery, added that the training will expose the participants to important areas such as data collection and collation, data presentation and tabulation, basic statistical analysis and data quality management.

He encouraged the participants to be active in all the sessions, share experience and seek clarification wherever necessary and prepare to apply the knowledge acquired to their daily duties.

Two of the participants, Mr. Muideen Olalekan and Victoria Adeleke appreciated the government for organizing the training for them, added that the workshop was timely and necessary to equip them for the tasks ahead of them for professionalism and efficient service delivery.