By Nosakhare Agbonigiarhuoyi
The ministries, departments, and agencies in the Edo State Government held a Joint Enumeration Workshop at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), in Benin City, the State’s Capital, on Thursday, January 19, 2023.
Addressing the need for MDAs to streamline their data-gathering activities, the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, pointed out that the purpose of the workshop was to make each government agency see itself as part of the whole.
He noted that the government will serve the public better, and save time and resources if the MDAs share information about their data-gathering activities with each other.
He opened his address by saying “Government is one and government has to operate as one.”
“If we allow different parts of government to run their own show in their own way without us all understanding how it comes together, then it will just be a waste.
“So this exercise is essentially to bring everybody together.” he added.
Highlighting the challenges of data storage, and its usage, Mr Obaseki said a well organised data system will serve the state better. He encouraged synergy between the MDAs, emphasizing the need to maximise resources and improve institutional knowledge.
“When we have finished every work we are doing, how do we store these data? Who now owns this data? How do we now use this data for the purposes for which we set out in the first place, which is planning; understanding what is going on?
“That’s why I felt we should have this workshop today. It is not to stop what you are doing.
“It’s for you to see beyond what you are doing, and what other people are doing, and see how we can collaborate and take benefits of the investments we are currently making rather than each person just going out to do their things. It’s about learning from each other.” Obaseki concluded.
