Gombe Government Leads Drive for Data-Backed Policies as MICS Survey Gains Momentum

Gombe Government Leads Drive for Data-Backed Policies as MICS Survey Gains Momentum

By Auwal Ahmad Umar, Gombe

The Gombe State Government has reaffirmed its leadership role in steering the ongoing Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), describing the exercise as a cornerstone for evidence-based planning aimed at improving the lives of women and children across the state.

The Acting Statistician-General of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dule Abubakar, made this known during a stakeholder engagement in Gombe, where he highlighted the state’s strategic coordination of the survey through the Gombe State Bureau of Statistics (GBS) in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

According to him, MICS remains one of the most reliable tools available to governments and development partners for tracking progress and shaping interventions in critical sectors such as education, health, maternal care, nutrition, water and sanitation, and child protection.

“MICS provides credible, comprehensive data on households, women and children. These indicators help the government take informed decisions that directly affect policy direction and resource allocation,” Abubakar said.

He explained that although the Bureau is not directly conducting household interviews, it has been actively involved in every phase of the process, from the planning and recruitment of field agents to training, supervision, monitoring, and quality assurance, ensuring that global data collection standards are strictly followed.

The Acting Statistician-General noted that the survey is conducted every five years and covers data collection, analysis, validation and dissemination.

He recalled that the previous round took place between 2021 and 2022, while the current exercise is already underway and will provide updated benchmarks to measure progress achieved since the last cycle.

Abubakar revealed that findings from earlier MICS reports had already shaped major government actions in Gombe, particularly increased investments in education and healthcare infrastructure.

He cited the construction of maternity centers across the state’s 11 local government areas as one of the outcomes of data-driven policy decisions.

On the composition of the field teams, he said women form the bulk of enumerators to address cultural sensitivities and ensure better access to female respondents in households.

The teams were drawn from key institutions, including the Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board, Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the Ministry of Women or Social Affairs.

While acknowledging challenges such as community mistrust, survey fatigue, and some respondents’ expectations of material benefits, Abubakar said sustained sensitisation efforts had improved public cooperation.

These efforts, he added, involved traditional leaders as well as radio and television campaigns and other media engagements.

Also speaking at the event, the North-East Zonal Controller of MICS, Abdullahi Adamu Ningi, described the survey as one of Africa’s most extensive data-gathering exercises.

He noted significant improvements over time, including the use of digital data collection tools and expanded survey modules that now capture information on men and adolescents.

Despite logistical and terrain challenges, Ningi assured stakeholders that the exercise is progressing smoothly and remains on track for timely completion.

With the state government firmly at the center of coordination, officials say the outcome of the current MICS will further strengthen Gombe’s ability to design targeted, sustainable policies that improve the well-being of its people especially women and children.