The House of Representatives has initiated legislative proceedings to repeal Nigeria's Statistics Act of 2007 and replace it with a modern legal framework. This reform seeks to enhance the country's statistical system, improve funding for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and align data production with global digital standards.
The move was the focus of a public hearing on the Statistics Bill, 2025 (HB. 2491), organized by the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development on Monday in Abuja. Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, emphasized that the proposed legislation represents a complete overhaul of Nigeria's statistical governance structure, not a routine amendment.
Abbas noted that the current Statistics Act was enacted 18 years ago, during a vastly different technological era. He stressed that Nigeria now operates in a data-driven global economy where governance, investment decisions, and accountability rely heavily on credible statistics. Without reliable data, governance becomes speculative rather than evidence-based, he warned.
The Speaker linked the reform to Nigeria's broader economic ambitions, stating that achieving a $1 trillion economy is impossible without accurate and timely statistical systems. He called for a robust legal framework to support data-driven policymaking and attract investments.
Statistician-General of the Federation and CEO of the NBS, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, described the bill as a timely intervention to modernize Nigeria's data governance framework. He highlighted the need for improved funding and technology to meet international standards.
Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, Adegboyega Nasiru Isiaka, said the reform is necessary due to rapid global changes in data production and utilization. He described statistics as a strategic national asset rather than a mere technical tool, emphasizing that no country can achieve sustainable development without reliable data.
The public hearing gathered stakeholders from various sectors to discuss the bill's provisions, including data quality, privacy, and coordination among statistical agencies. The committee aims to finalize the bill and present it for passage in the coming weeks.
