The Statistics Act, 2003

Chapter II

The Bureau

Establishment of the Bureau

4.(1)     There shall be established an organ, to be known as the, “Central  Bureau of Statistics”,  having a corporate personality, perpetual succession, a common seal and the right to litigate in its own name.

    (2)    The headquarters of the Bureau shall be in the Khartoum     State, and   it      may, upon the approval of the Minister, establish offices, in any of the states.

               Functions and powers of the Bureau

5.(1)     The Bureau shall be the basic final resort of the State, in the field of statistics, and shall assume conducting statistics, preparing statistical researches, relating to economic and social activities, and promoting statistical systems , as the economic and social development plans and programmes may require. Without prejudice, to the generality of the foregoing, the Bureau shall have the following functions and powers, to :-

(a)   prepare the statistical researches, relating to population statistics, and economic activities, in co-operation with the competent bodies;

(b)   encourage the statistical studies, relating to economic and social activities, as the development  plan may require;

(c)   disseminate statistical awareness, by any means, as they may deem fit;

(d)   establish a national system of statistical information, and promote the systems and styles of statistical information technology, in accordance with the modern scientific standards;

(e)   collect, organize, unify, prepare, analyze and summarize the results of statistical information;

(f)     establish a central archive, to authenticate statistical publications;

(g)   bind the various State organs to deposit whatever they issue of statistical publications, and what they collect of statistical information, with the Bureau;

(h)   organize statistical work, between the various organs and associations, and specify the way of co-operation, between them, for the purpose of providing the statistical  information item in the internal and external uses;

(i)     train and qualify employees of the Bureau, and contribute to train employees of the statistical organs, in the states, State organs, ministries and Government units; 

(j)      co-ordinate the statistical work, between the states, State organs, ministries and Government units;

(k)   unify the methods, standards and terminology of statistical work.

(2)  Saving statistical business, relating to specialized work, employees and financial and economic matters, for the purposes of specialized work, no person shall conduct statistics, before the written approval of the Bureau.

Establishment , constitution, quarters

and supervision of the Council

6.(1)     There shall be established a council, to be known as the, “ Statistics National Council”, constituted by a decision of the President of the Republic, and under the chairmanship of the Minister, and a number of members, representing the ministries, and bodies having connection and competence; provided that the Director General shall be a member and rapporteur of the Council .

(2)       The quarters of the Council shall be in the Khartoum State.

Functions of the Council

7.(1)     The Council shall be the supreme authority, which assumes the general supervision, over the Bureau, and lay down the plans and general policy of statistics, in the State. Without prejudice, to the generality of the foregoing , the  Council  shall  have  the  following  functions and powers, to :-

(a)         approve the programmes and official statistics, which the State needs, in the business thereof, together with specifying priorities;

(b)         co-ordinate the statistical activity, between the competent bodies, at the national level;

(c)          constitute technical committees, by a decision thereof, to help them in their business, and the decision shall specify the tasks, functions , term and the remuneration of the members thereof;

(d)         levy fees, on the services rendered by the Bureau, upon the approval of the Minister of Finance and National Economy;

(e)         pass the annual budget of the Bureau, and the general costs of statistics;

(f)            nominate occupiers of leadership posts, at the Bureau, to the Minister, to recommend, on his part, in respect thereof, to the President of the Republic, for appointment;

(g)         propose the organizational chart, and terms of service of employees of the Bureau, to the Minister, to submit the same, on his part, to the Ministers of Labour and Administrative Reform, and Finance and National Economy, to submit the same, to the Council of Ministers, for approval thereof;

(h)          approve the periodical reports, prepared, on the business of the Bureau;

(i)            make regulations, to organize the business thereof;

(j)            any other functions, or powers, as may be necessary , for the performance of the business of the same.

(2)   The Council may delegate any of the powers and functions thereof, to the Chairman of the same, any member of the Council or any committee, constituted thereby, as to such conditions, and safeguards, as they may deem fit.

Meetings of the Council

8.(1)     The Council shall hold three annual meetings, at least, and they may hold an  emergent meeting, upon call of the Chairman thereof, or request of  two-thirds of the members, whenever necessity requires the same.

(2)   The quorum, for meetings of the Council, shall be constituted by the  attendance of the majority of members.

(3)    Decisions shall be adopted by the majority of the members present; and in case of equality of votes, the Chairman of the Council shall have a casting vote ; provided that the quorum shall be present.

The Director General

9.         The Bureau shall have a director general, to be appointed by the President of the Republic , upon the recommendation of the Minister; and the decision of his appointment shall specify the emoluments, and privileges thereof.

  Functions and powers of the Director General 

10.(1)   The Director General shall be the first executive responsible to the Minister, and assume shouldering the financial, administrative and technical activity of the Bureau. Without prejudice, to the generality of the foregoing, he shall have the following functions and powers, to :-

(a)     supply Government bodies with statistical information, as may lie within the jurisdiction thereof;

(b)     tender technical consultancy, on such statistical matters, as the Government bodies may submit thereto;

(c)      execute the decisions and functions of the Council;

(d)     publish, in the Gazette, the results of such statistical operations, as the Council may recommend;

(e)     deposit, with the National Archives House, a copy of the reports of such statistical operations, as the Council may recommend;

(f)        prepare the proposals of the annual budget, including the special balance sheets of the costs of statistical operations, having federal nature, and submit the same, to the Council, for approval thereof;

(g)     co-ordinate, between the Bureau and the various State’s organs, in the field of statistics;

(h)      organize and exchange the means of the Bureau, and the potentialities of employment of the same, to achieve the objects thereof;

(i)        propose policies, programmes and work plans of statistical work, and submit the same, to the Council, for approval thereof;

(j)        tender opinion , about the local and international agreements, relating to statistics;

(k)      sign contracts and agreements;

(l)        represent the Bureau, and speak in its name, before legal bodies, and other bodies, having connection, inside and outside the Sudan ;

(m)   approve spending the amounts, allocated for expenditure , set out in the approved budget;

(n)      constitute a committee, or committees, to help him, in performance of the tasks and functions thereof, and specify the functions and tasks of the same;

(o)     appoint employees, promote, train and discipline them, in accordance with the public service laws in force;

(p)     any other business, as may be necessary, for the exercise of the functions and powers, in the most ideal way.

(2)   The Director General shall not conduct any substantial changes, in the organs of the Bureau, without the approval of the Council.

(3)   The Director General may delegate, any of his powers, to any person, or committee, as to such conditions and safeguards, as he may deem fit.

State  statistics

 11.(1)   Statistics, within the limits of the state, shall be organized by a state’s law, consonant with such provisions, pertaining to statistics, as may be set out in this Act.

(2)    Statistics, in the state, shall be subject to such general policies, as the Council may lay down.

(3)  Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1) , the state’s law shall organize statistics, and specify the functions and procedure, relating thereto .

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