By  Celestine Okorie

Nigeria has formally commenced the process of conducting the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey

(MICS6)/National Immunization Coverage Survey(NICS) with an inaugural meeting of the National

Steering Committee virtually held on the September 15, 2020.

A statement  from the Head, Public Affairs & International Relations Unit(PAIRU)of the  National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Ichedi, Sunday Joel, says  the task of the committee is to oversee the whole process of MICS6/NICS 2020 to ensure that all activities concerning the survey are effectively carried out for a successful outcome.

Said Ichedi Sunday Joel: “MICS is the largest source of statistically sound and internationally comparable data on women and children worldwide, focusing on issues such as; health, education, child protection, water and sanitation, amongst others. The survey also serves as a major source of data in measuring achievements of some of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international commitments. The first round of MICS in Nigeria was conducted in 1995 by the then Federal Office of Statistics, which is now National Bureau of Statistics. Since its inception, a total of 5 rounds have been conducted with technical support majorly from UNICEF.

Members of the National Steering Committee were drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and

Agencies of government and International Partners, and will be coordinated by  the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Others members of the committee include: National Population Commission; Federal Ministry of

Finance, Budget and National Planning; Federal Ministry of Health; Federal Ministry of Education;

Federal Ministry of Women Affairs; Federal Ministry of Water Resources; Federal Ministry of

Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; Central Bank of Nigeria; National

Primary Health Care Development Agency; Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs;

Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention; Representatives of states Bureau of Statistics (

Bauchi and Sokoto); GAVI( Vaccine Alliance); Melinda and Gates Foundation; United Nations Children

Fund; United Nations Population Fund; Department for International Development (DFID); World

Health Organization; World Bank and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The National Steering Committee on MICS6/NICS appeals to the general public for their support in

ensuring that the Survey exercise is brought to a successful end.

More enquiries on the survey are to be channeled  to: the Director of Real Sector and Household Statistics Department, National Bureau of Statistics Mr. Adeyemi Adeniran  on GSM number:08065646116.