Economy
Man of the month: Dr. Yemi Kale, the numbers man, brings sense to statistics
Prof. Yemi Kale, DG, National Bureau of Statistics
By UCHE CHRIS
Before his arrival as Nigeria’s Number One statistician national economic data were a whole mass of obfuscating mass of numbers relevant to the average Nigerian. Then it was an assignment only for the trained professional. Until his coming laymen such as journalists and activists had little engagement in the vocation before he brought sense into statistics.
Even the National Bureau of Statistics itself as an institution has been transformed from its hitherto civil service and bureaucratic tradition to an independent professional body whose work and product command both national and international commendation.
Today, NBS report is the most awaited official economic information source in the country. It has become the most credible and authentic authority on economic data. Unlike in the past when its reports were dated and of little relevance, as a result of delay in delivery and often unreliable due largely to official review, most people both within and outside the country hold its reports in high esteem because of the professional approach brought into it operations.
Its head then was a director in the ministry of Economic planning who reported directly to a permanent secretary making its process and system slow and bureaucratic and its independence under question.
NBS figures now stand out – a true reflection of the economic conditions; they are timely, national in coverage and broad enough in scope to paint the true picture of things –and written for everybody who can read – and devoid of the technical jargons that portrayed its past. It has become the barometer for measuring economic performance in the country.Before his stewardship only government determined the source of such information.
Kale is not the first to occupy the position but he is then first to serve two terms based on his sterling performance and transformational leadership and professionalism. His transformation of this once moribund institution reminds one of the revolution late former minister of information and DG of NAFDAC, brought on the agency after she took it from a corruption ridden and inefficient agency to a world class organization.
But for the NBS under the irrepressible Kale, Nigerians would never have known the true state of the economy and the dire situation the government plunged the country. For a government that is more interested in propaganda than information management and dissemination, economic data and figures are the first casualty.
For instance, the unemployment figure was delayed for over two quarters because government felt uncomfortable with its release close to the presidential elections and made deliberate attempt to deny NBS of fund.
Kale went public that the federal government had not released money for the National Bureau of Statistics to complete the unemployment report before it was able to do so.
It’s been a year since the bureau released Nigeria’s unemployment figures, which are usually released quarterly, he had said.
Yet the bureau found the courage to release the result which left most people bewildered by the enormity of the problems with the rate rising to 21.9 percent from just 8 percent four years ago.The availability of such figures brought some sobriety to a government that had been gloating over its achievements.
NBS under Kale has proved powerfully how important information is to public policy and planning. Accurate and timely information is a tool-kit for effective policy and management of organizations and the economy. Our inability to harness the advantage of credible data has hobbled most of our national efforts – population, taxation, school enrollment etc.
The Director General of the NBS, Kale, also had cause to challenge the federal government over job creation figure. The presidency had claimed that that the President MuhammaduBuhari-led administration created at least 12 million new jobs since inauguration in 2015.
The claim was made by President Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, GarbaShehu, while he was speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, December 17, 2018.
When quizzed on the administration’s abysmal job creation numbers based on data reported by the NBS, Shehu said Dr Kale has admitted to the federal government that the previously-published data had only focused on white-collar jobs. But Kale would not be cowered and he denied such effrontery.
According to him, a claim by the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) that 12 million jobs had been created in the agricultural sector has not been disputed by anyone.
NBS postponed the release of the data, time and again, with the latest being from late November to December 7, 2018.
Based on previous reports, it is expected that unemployment in the country will soar to record highs, with 18.8 percent of the country’s population or 15.9 million people, unemployed.
Profile
Dr. Yemi Kale is the Statistician General of the National Bureau of Statistics of Nigeria.[1]
Under his tenure, the GDP of Nigeria was recalculated, and following the recalculation, declared the largest GDP in Africa.[2]
Kale assumed office in 2011, and was reappointed in 2016 making him the first chief executive in the Agency’s history to serve two terms as statistician general. Kale is also a member of the boards of Skye Bank and SFS Capital Nigeria Limited.
Before assuming office Kale acted as a special adviser to the Nigerian Minister of Finance and Minister of National Planning as well as group head of research and strategy at Investment Banking and Trust Company, now Stanbic IBTC Bank[.
In addition, Kale is a member of the World Economics Association, UK Royal Economic Society, and a fellow of the UK Royal Statistical Society.He is also a fellow of the Nigerian Statistical Association and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Administrators and Researchers of Nigeria among others.
At The National Bureau of the Statistics he has been applauded by both Nigerian and foreign observers from his reforms in the data process which many believe has restored sanity to the data production process in Nigeria. Kale is commended for introducing methodology updates, some decades old, using modern technology such as Computer Assisted Personal Interview Devices to gather data and improving platforms for data dissemination including a data portal, upgraded website and App and the use of infographics to make data easily understandable by users. Under him timeliness of data, data quantity and quality has been greatly enhanced and data credibility improved significantly.
He is highly regarded for his fierce refusal to tamper with data or rejection of the politicization of data which has gained him recognition from both pro and anti governments stakeholders as well as the international community. In August 2016 he declared that Nigeria”a economy had entered into a recession, the first time in 25 years.
Kale was awarded the National Productivity Order of Merit for outstanding performance, professionalism and diligence in February 2017 by the Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari.