An economist, Dr Afolabi Olowookere, has stressed the need for policymakers to be equipped with the necessary data and information for socioeconomic performance in the current democratic dispensation.
Olowookere, the Managing Director/Chief Economist of the Analysts Data Services and Resources (ADSR), said this in a statement in Lagos.
He said that policymakers needed to be supported to devise innovative means of addressing the country’s challenges and achieving its laudable vision with sustainable data and information.
“Nigeria is, therefore, presented with another opportunity to improve its socioeconomic performance, particularly at a time when many of the citizens are highly expectant, while some are critical of the role of government in improving their welfare, judging from their past experiences.
“Following the elections earlier this year, several political office holders have emerged as the President, Governors and Members of Senate, the House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly. Many other appointments are equally being considered and made as cabinet members, advisers, and heads of agencies and departments, among others.
“Our policymakers, therefore, need to be supported to devise innovative means of addressing the country’s challenges and achieving its laudable vision.
“They need to be adequately equipped with the necessary data, information and analysis of where we are, how we got here, what has been done in the past and the outcomes, what works elsewhere that can be adapted, as well as what can be done in the immediate, medium and long-term periods?
“Citizens, businesses and other key stakeholders also need to be able to gauge how the activities of policymakers affect their interests and thereby offer their contribution towards strengthening the country’s policymaking process,” Olowookere said.
He said that the current medium-term plan, the National Development Plan (2021–2025), has the vision of unlocking Nigeria’s potential in all sectors of the economy for sustainable, holistic and inclusive national development with sustainable data, while adding that it was based on the need to tackle the challenges of inadequate application of data in planning that “Nigeria in Figures: A Socio-Economic Databook,” would be launched on June 8, 2023, at Muson Centre, Lagos.
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