The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has assured Nigerians of improved, accurate and comprehensive data on labour through its newly enhanced Nigeria Labour Force Survey (NLFS).

At the opening of the eight-day training of enumerators for the Nigeria Labour Force survey in Ibadan, Adeyemi Adeniran, the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of NBS, said the newly enhanced NLFS would address the rebuff that usually accompanied the release of reports.

He underscored the importance of the training to the exercise that was to be carried out and its impact on the government’s policies and implementation for national development.

“Amongst all the economic and socio-economic indicators published by the bureau, the unemployment rate, which is the main indicator emanating from the NLFS, is probably one of the most-anticipated, most widely understood and most-relatable indicators among the populace.

“Many might not easily grasp the concept of GDP growth, inflation rate or even poverty rate, or how the computation is done; but most, if not all, will understand the concept of unemployment and what a rise or fall in the rate means because it is highly relatable to their daily lives.

“So, the NLFS is a very important and significant exercise for all our ardent users (government, policymakers, or researchers and the general public),” Mr Adeniran said.

He said the re-evaluation took care of the methodology used in line with international best practices and locally relevant.

He said it also ensured a robust production process to produce estimates on a sustainable basis, thereby avoiding periodic gaps.

“This new approach involves a 12 month-long method of data collection, with a streamlined workforce, manageable sample size and a 12-month-long assurance mechanism built into the process.

“The outcome of the review has brought about new additions to the instrument, capturing information on persons employed, but not at work, long-term unemployment, job satisfaction, discouraged job seekers and information on decent work, which is one the indicators of the SDG Goal eight,” Mr Adeniran said.

Commenting, Jonathan Williams, a representative of the World Bank, said many people around the world have collaborated on the project.

Mr Williams said the enhanced NLFS would capture concepts that had not been captured before and there would be checks and validations to ensure they are high quality.

(NAN)