1.1K
By Tracy Moses
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has called for far-reaching reforms of Nigeria’s statistical system, arguing that the country cannot successfully pursue its ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy without accurate, credible and timely data to guide governance and economic decision-making.
Abbas made the call on Monday at a public hearing on the Statistics Bill, 2025, held at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja. The hearing was organised by the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development as part of efforts to secure stakeholder input on legislation seeking to repeal the Statistics Act of 2007 and establish a modern legal framework for the country’s statistical architecture.
The proposed legislation aims to strengthen the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), improve coordination among government agencies involved in data production, promote digital data collection and dissemination, enhance quality assurance mechanisms and provide a more sustainable funding structure for the National Statistical System.
Represented by the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, the Speaker stressed that reliable statistics have become indispensable for national planning, economic management and development policy in an increasingly data-driven world.
“To plan without accurate data is to build a house on quicksand. For Nigeria to achieve its goal of becoming a $1tn economy, every policy decision, budget allocation, and infrastructural investment must be guided by data that is accurate, timely, and beyond reproach,” Abbas said.
He noted that while the Statistics Act of 2007 played a significant role in strengthening official data production over the years, the realities of the digital age have exposed limitations in the existing framework.
According to him, technological innovations such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, machine learning, geospatial information systems and big data analytics have transformed how governments and institutions generate, analyse and utilise information.
Abbas said the proposed legislation represents more than a simple amendment to an existing law, describing it as a comprehensive effort to reposition Nigeria’s statistical institutions to meet the demands of modern governance and economic planning.
“When the current law was enacted nearly two decades ago, technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, cloud computing and digital platforms were either emerging or largely absent from mainstream governance and economic planning,” he observed.
He added that the increasing reliance on real-time information by governments, investors and development partners has made credible statistics a strategic national asset.
The Speaker further emphasised the need to eliminate duplication in government data collection processes, noting that a coordinated statistical system would reduce waste, save public resources and improve public confidence in official figures.
“We need a system that inspires absolute trust, whether an investor looks at our numbers in Abuja, London or New York,” he said.
The push for reform comes amid growing recognition globally that strong national statistical institutions are essential for measuring economic performance, tracking development indicators and supporting evidence-based policymaking.
In Nigeria, the NBS serves as the official source of key socio-economic indicators, including inflation data, unemployment figures, gross domestic product estimates and household surveys. However, concerns have persisted over funding challenges, data harmonisation issues and institutional coordination among agencies involved in data generation.
Abbas said the Statistics Bill, 2025 seeks to address these challenges by creating a more integrated and responsive statistical ecosystem capable of producing high-frequency and granular data while maintaining global standards of quality, transparency and credibility.
He also reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to inclusive lawmaking and encouraged stakeholders from academia, government institutions, civil society organisations, development agencies and the private sector to critically examine the bill and contribute recommendations that would strengthen the final legislation.
According to him, broad-based participation is necessary to ensure that the law remains responsive to future developments in data governance and official statistics.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Statistics expressed strong support for the proposed legislation, describing it as a critical step towards modernising Nigeria’s data governance framework.
Speaking at the hearing, the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the NBS, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, said the country’s statistical system must evolve to keep pace with technological advancements and emerging sources of data.
He noted that while the Statistics Act of 2007 had served the nation effectively, changes in technology and data production methods now require a stronger and more contemporary legal framework.
“The increasing use of digital technologies, administrative data systems, geospatial information, big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence and other emerging data sources requires a modern legal framework capable of supporting the evolving needs of the National Statistical System,” Adeniran said.
He explained that the bill seeks to strengthen the production, coordination and use of official statistics across the country, while also promoting innovation, improving institutional effectiveness and enhancing professional standards.
According to him, the proposed legislation is divided into eight parts and contains 42 clauses covering key issues such as statistical governance, institutional development, data management, confidentiality, accountability, funding and stakeholder coordination.
Adeniran expressed confidence that the passage of the bill would significantly improve the capacity of the National Statistical System to generate timely, reliable and credible data required for effective governance and sustainable national development.
The public hearing attracted representatives of ministries, departments and agencies, researchers, development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders who examined the provisions of the bill and offered suggestions aimed at strengthening the proposed law.
If enacted, the Statistics Bill, 2025 would constitute the most significant reform of Nigeria’s statistical framework since the passage of the current legislation nearly two decades ago, with far-reaching implications for economic planning, public policy and national development.