By Anayo Okoli
ENUGU—Secretary to the Federal Government, SGF, George Akume, has said that accurate information and data are vital for the planning of the economic and social development of the country.
Particularly, Akume noted the importance of accurate data in preparing a national budget that will have a meaningful impact on the grassroots.
He spoke yesterday in Enugu at the South geopolitical zones stakeholders’ sensitization meeting on the activation and implementation of the Local Government Proof of Address (POA) System.
Represented by the Director, Political and Constitutional Matters in his office, Mrs. Helen Garpiya, he noted that for a long time, Nigeria has been budgeting, but it hardly gets down to the grassroots due to inaccurate data that could drive development.
He assured that with the introduction of proof of address, accurate data would be procured for proper planning and national growth.
“When we are planning, we should know how many people are in Enugu, for instance, so that we can budget and allocate amenities for the grassroots,” Akume said.
“We need to get it right. For a long time, we have been budgeting, but it doesn’t really get down to the people. But with this POA, we will be able to get there because we have accurate data. This is a step towards having proper data for Nigeria,” Akume assured.
He said with the POA system, the exact number of people in Nigeria, as well as foreigners coming into Nigeria, would be known.
In his remarks at the occasion, the national president of ALGON, Bello Lawal, said that the POA would help the nation get accurate statistics for economic growth.
Bello, represented by the Enugu State ALGON chairman, Sydney Edeh, said that the exercise is not a mere bureaucratic procedure but a necessary step to getting it right.
“The Proof of Address is not just another bureaucratic exercise; it is an integral part of civil registration and vital statistics ecosystems. By providing verifiable proof of residence, the POA will support effective planning, financial inclusion, and overall economic growth,” Bello said.
In his remarks, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah said that if the activation of the local government proof of address is carried out well, the level of insecurity will be minimized, as the process would go a long way in helping to plan developmental projects in the South East.
Mbah, who was represented by Ifeanyi Agujobi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, said his administration had partially keyed into the plan by the establishment of a community-based rural demarcation system.
The post SFG harps on accurate data in national planning, budgeting appeared first on Vanguard News.
