Buhari mourns Statistician-General, Simon Harry

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with family, friends and associates of Dr Simon Harry, the Statistician-General of the Federation, who died at the age of 57 Wednesday.

A statement by the Director, Corporate Communications and Public Relations at the NBS, Sunday Ichedi said Harry died after a brief illness.

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The statement quoted the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, as describing his death as shocking.

The president, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, also condoled with the government and people of Plateau State on the loss of an “illustrious” citizen.

He noted his exemplary contributions to the evolution of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the developmental planning of the country.

Buhari, who paid tribute to the late Statistician-General, said he worked “Conscientiously with previous heads of the organisation in recent years, providing relevant data to government and making the NBS a point of reference on various issues affecting the country.”

The president said with his appointment in August, Harry ensured that the organisation where he had put in three decades continued to be relevant in taking crucial decisions in the country.

Buhari urged colleagues in the field of data gathering and analysis, especially at the NBS, to take solace in the fact that having risen to the pinnacle of his career, the late Harry put in his best in the service of the country.

He prayed that God will repose his soul and comfort the family in this time of grief.

By Muideen Olaniyi, Philip Clement & Faruk Shuaibu