The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has commenced programme for the re-evaluation of outcomes of Nigerian Labour Force Survey (NLFS) aimed at ensuring it meets international best practice.
OPTIMUM TIMES recalls that the NBS had in collaboration with the World Bank and other stakeholders embarked on the revision of the methodology of the NLFS.
The Statistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, made the disclosure while addressing participants at the training workshop for the newly enhanced Nigeria Labour Force Survey.
Prince Adeniran underscored the essence of the training taking place in Ibadan between 7th – 14, October 2022, explaining that “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.”
According to Prince Adeniran, “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). Moreover, while this is one of the most critical and anticipated indicators on our data release calendar, any follower of our activities in the Bureau will know that the last LFS report to be published was for the reference period of quarter 4 of 2022, immediately after the easing of the Covid-19 lockdown, which produced a headline rate of 33.3%.
“Since the release of that report, which as usual, was met with rebuff from some sections of our wide array of users, and applause from other sections, there became a need to re-evaluate the methodology and process deployed in conducting the LFS in Nigeria.”
He said the re-evaluation was critical
to ensure that the design and methodology is in line with international best practice and locally relevant, and to ensure that a production process was robust enough to produce estimates on a sustainable basis (avoiding periodic gaps), and also, produce more labour market indicators and analysis that will inform government about the employment and job situation in Nigeria.
He explained that the Bureau working in concert with Staff of the World Bank had come up with a reliable and comprehensive process and design, that will satisfy the needs of all users, address concerns of quality, addresses questions on seasonality, reduce proxy responses, is cost-effective, and eliminates gaps in the series going forward.
“To this end, we have designed a new approach for the conduct of the NLFS survey in Nigeria. This new approach involves a 12month-long method of data collection, with a streamlined workforce, manageable sample size and an enhanced quality 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 8”, he stated.
The Chief Executive of NBS said that Bureau’s management working with World Bank thought it wise to bring all the field personnel selected for this exercise to one location for the training of enumerators to ensure that everything humanly possible is done to guarantee the quality of the results and realise the objectives of the exercise.
He charged the participants to take the training serious warning that
“No laxity will be tolerated from anyone. Everyone is expected to follow all the laid down guidelines and protocols for the survey, so that we can have the best chance of realising the desired results.
“This caution does not only go to the enumerators and supervisors on the field, but also to the monitors, data assistants and data editors working remotely on this exercise.”
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