Economy
THE Federal Government says it is committed to the successful conduct of the 7th round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)/ National Immunisation Coverage Survey(NICS).
Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician- General of the Federation, said this at the inauguration of the National Steering Committee and National Technical Committee for the 7th round of the MICS and NICS in Abuja on Monday.
Adeniran, Chief Executive Officer, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said the inauguration, which was in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was a highlight of the preparatory activities of the two surveys.
He said there had been improvements and innovations to the two surveys since their last round in 2021.
Adeniran said there would be structural changes in the standard survey questionnaire and the expansion of its content in the 7th round of the two surveys.
“Improved technology will be deployed to capture geographic locations and improved turnaround time to complete the process of this round.
”Efficient data quality control to ensure results are robust enough for policy-making, capacity strengthening for our staff and improved online presence after the results are out.
“ There will be challenges in the delivery of these two exercises, however, it comes with immense value for national development planning, policy-making and programme development and government decisions.
“Therefore as part of the strategic plan put in place to ensure the success of the 7th round of the MICS and NICS, a governance structure has been constituted to carry out overall coordination of the survey and the entire process.”
He said the national steering committee will be chaired by the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer, of NBS.
Adeniran said members were drawn from representatives from the National Population Commission, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Primary Health Care Development Agency.
He said others are representatives from the Ministries of Education, Water Resources and Sanitation, Environment And Natural Resources, Women Affairs and Social Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“Others are the representatives of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs; National Human Capital Development Secretariat, Office of the Vice-President and State Ministries of Budget and Economic Planning.
“Others include UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNDP, UNWomen, World Bank, GAFI, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Food and Agriculture Organisation, and World Food Programme.”
The Statistician-General said other critical members who had not been captured would be included in the course of the meetings of the steering committee toward the implementation of the surveys.
“Members of the steering committee are tasked with providing oversight for the planning, implementation and dissemination of MICS seven and NICS results. Ensuring the highest standards of accuracy and reliability.
“They are expected to advise the survey’s technical committee on the process and content of the survey, support them on the day-to-day operation of the survey management and promote ownership of the survey results.
“This will enable us to utilise the data effectively for policy formulation, advocacy and monitoring our national commitments to the 2030 SDGS and the African Agenda 2060.”
He said the technical committee comprised technical experts from the organisations represented on the steering committee and other relevant institutions that can assist with topics covered by the MICS/NICS.
Mr Wayne Bacale, Chief, Planning and Monitoring, at UNICEF, said he hoped the 7th round of the MICS would be a tool to help ministries reflect on how the country was progressing.
“I hope the inauguration will help us know the strategic priorities in the 7th edition and to what extent we can use the survey for our decision-making policy on Nigeria.
“ The MICS and NICS is a strong story to tell on how we have progressed as a nation.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MICS is a household survey developed by UNICEF to assist countries in filling data gaps for monitoring human development indicators in general and the situation of children and women, in particular.
The NBS implemented MICS which provides data on child mortality, health, nutrition, education, child and social protection, women’s health care and empowerment, water, sanitation and hygiene, while NICS assesses vaccination coverage provided through the health systems. (NAN)
15th July, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: federal government MICS National Immunisation Coverage Survey NBS NICS UNICEF
