Statistics bill: Abbas seeks overhaul of Nigeria’s data system

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has said Nigeria can no longer rely on a statistical framework enacted nearly two decades ago, stressing the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s data architecture to meet the demands of the digital era. Abbas stated this on Monday in Abuja at a public […]

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has said Nigeria can no longer rely on a statistical framework enacted nearly two decades ago, stressing the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s data architecture to meet the demands of the digital era.
Abbas stated this on Monday in Abuja at a public hearing on the Statistics Bill, 2025, a proposed legislation seeking to repeal the Statistics Act of 2007 and establish a modern framework for the production, coordination and use of official statistics in the country.
Represented at the hearing, the Speaker described the bill as a “complete structural overhaul” rather than a minor amendment, noting that the existing law was enacted in a different technological and economic environment.
“Today, we live in a fast-evolving digital age where data is generated at a velocity, veracity, volume and variety never seen before. The Statistics Bill, 2025 is not a minor amendment; it is a complete structural overhaul,” he said.
Abbas said reliable and timely statistics remain critical for governance, economic planning, accountability and sustainable development, adding that governments cannot formulate effective policies without dependable data.
He said the proposed legislation seeks to strengthen coordination among statistical agencies, improve data quality assurance, promote digital data collection and dissemination, and establish a sustainable funding mechanism for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
According to him, the bill will also create a unified and consistent data system capable of producing high-frequency and granular statistics while reducing duplication and survey fatigue.
“To plan without accurate data is to build a house on quicksand. For Nigeria to achieve its goal of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy, every policy decision, budget allocation and infrastructural investment must be guided by data that is accurate, timely and beyond reproach,” he said.
The Speaker noted that countries that effectively generate, manage and utilise data are better positioned to attract investments, improve public service delivery and strengthen democratic accountability.
He urged stakeholders to make constructive contributions during the hearing to ensure the legislation becomes a robust legal framework that guarantees data privacy while promoting accessibility, credibility and integrity across the Nigerian Statistical System.
Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, said the review became necessary because the current law no longer reflects emerging realities in the data ecosystem.
He said the proposed legislation takes into account developments such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, geospatial technologies, big data and real-time information systems.
“Data has become the currency of sustainable development in the modern world, and statistics the compass that guides national development,” he said.
Also speaking, the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, said the bill would provide a stronger legal foundation for the National Statistical System.
He said the legislation is structured into eight parts and 42 clauses designed to strengthen statistical governance, institutional development, data management, confidentiality, accountability, funding and stakeholder coordination.
Adeniran said the passage of the bill would enhance the capacity of the NBS and other statistical agencies to provide timely, reliable and credible data needed for evidence-based decision-making and national development.
The public hearing attracted representatives of ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, academics, civil society organisations, private sector operators and other stakeholders.