Reps move to replace 2007 Statistics Law with new data framework

By Gift Chapi Odekina, Abuja

ABUJA — The House of Representatives has begun legislative action to repeal the Statistics Act, 2007 and replace it with a new legal framework designed to modernise Nigeria’s statistical system for the digital era.

Speaking at a public hearing on the Statistics Bill, 2025, at the National Assembly on Monday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said the proposed legislation would strengthen the National Statistical System and improve the capacity of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to provide timely and reliable data.

Abbas described the bill as a comprehensive reform of the country’s statistical framework, noting that the existing law was enacted under significantly different technological and economic conditions.

He said the proposed legislation seeks to improve coordination among statistical agencies, promote digital data collection and dissemination, strengthen quality assurance mechanisms and provide sustainable funding for the NBS.

According to the Speaker, reliable statistics are essential for governance, economic planning, resource allocation and policy evaluation, adding that accurate data is critical to Nigeria’s development objectives.

He noted that the reforms are intended to support evidence-based decision-making and enhance the country’s ability to attract investment and improve public service delivery.

Abbas also urged stakeholders to contribute to the legislative process to ensure the bill promotes data privacy, accessibility, credibility and integrity.

Also speaking at the hearing, the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the NBS, Adeyemi Adeniran, said the proposed law is a response to rapid changes in the global data ecosystem.

He noted that advances in technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data analytics, geospatial information systems and digital administrative data platforms have transformed the production and use of statistics.

Adeniran said the bill contains eight parts and 42 clauses covering statistical governance, institutional development, data collection and management, confidentiality, accountability, funding and stakeholder coordination.

He expressed confidence that the legislation would strengthen the National Statistical System and improve the availability of reliable data for development planning, policy formulation, programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

The Statistician-General commended the House leadership and the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development for advancing the bill.

Stakeholders from government agencies, academia, civil society organisations and the private sector participated in the hearing and are expected to submit recommendations before the bill proceeds to further legislative consideration.

The Statistics Bill, 2025 seeks to establish a modern, technology-driven statistical framework to support national development planning and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global data economy.

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