PRESENTATION BY NYEFOLO SEBOKA RRSF WORKSHOP, KIGALI, RWANDA

 LEGISLATION  ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BUREAU  FUNCTIONS OF THE BUREAU  NATIONAL STATISTICAL COUNCIL OF THE BUREAU  COLLECTION OF STATISTICAL INFORMATION  CHALLENGES

 A strong statistical legislation is a fundamental prerequisite for an effective National Statistical System. Such legislation underpins the institutional arrangements for the collection, management and dissemination of official statistics.

 It also ensures professional independence of a national statistical agency and other agencies within the NSS to enhance the integrity, impartiality and credibility of official statistics as well as data confidentiality.

 The BOS under the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning operates under the Lesotho Bureau of Statistics Act (2001). As the Act states, BOS shall be deemed to be established under this Act and it shall be responsible for all matters relating to official statistics, and shall also ensure that official statistics are produced in an objective, scientific and unbiased manner. The Statistics Act No 8 of 2001 follows that Statistics Act No. 11 of 1965.

 According to the Act BOS shall be the principal data collecting, processing, analyzing and dissemination agency responsible for co-coordinating, monitoring and supervising the National Statistical System, including matters specified in the above paragraph.

 With regard to coordination, the Statistics Act (2001) states that in the exercise of functions under the Act, the BOS Director should consult and cooperate with other lead agencies having related duties or objectives to those of BOS. The Act states that “the Director shall liaise and collaborate with line Ministries in the production of official statistics”.

 The Act also states that BOS shall establish standards and promote the use of best practices and methods in the production and dissemination of statistical information across the NSS.

 The Statistics Act (2001) stipulates that a National Statistical Council shall advise the Minister on statistical policies and programmes and it started operating in 2009.

 The membership of the Council includes representatives from key Ministries, National University of Lesotho, major users of statistics and Central Bank of Lesotho.

 The Council shall also advise BOS on statistical priorities evaluate and monitor the work of BOS and ensure that duplication of statistical work is avoided. BOS Director is designated the Secretary of the National Statistical Council.

 The Ministries include Trade and Industry; Labour and Employment; Finance and Development Planning; Local Government; Agriculture; Health and Social Welfare; and, Education.

 The Act was not widely disseminated  Most of the activities were not implemented  No Statistics Regulations  No specific mention is made on the coordination mechanisms such as inter- agency committees, task forces, etc.  There are stakeholders who still do not adhere to the Act

THANK YOU