…Abbas says outdated law undermines planning, security, development
BY JOY ODOR
The House of Representatives has begun a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s civil registration system, proposing full digitization of birth and death records to support data-driven governance and national development.
Declaring open a public hearing on the Bill to repeal and re-enact the Births, Deaths, etc. (Compulsory Registration) Act, Speaker of the House, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, said Nigeria could no longer rely on manual and outdated methods to capture vital statistics needed for effective planning and security.
Represented by Rep. Godwin Offiono (Cross River), Abbas said the new bill seeks to modernise the country’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system through electronic registration and data integration.
“The law we currently operate is archaic and unfit for a 21st-century nation,” he said.
“Accurate and timely registration of births, deaths, and other vital events is fundamental to good governance, national planning, and social development.”
He noted that digitization would improve identity management, reduce fraud and duplication, and ensure that every Nigerian has access to verifiable legal documents.
Chairman of the House Committee on Population, Rep. Odimayo Okunjimi, described the reform as a national necessity, saying the existing system has long failed to meet the demands of modern governance.
“Without reliable civil registration and vital statistics, it is impossible to plan effectively or deliver social services equitably,” Okunjimi said.
“This bill will provide a unified, technology-driven system that captures births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and adoptions across the country.”
He added that the proposed legislation would create a centralised digital database linking the National Population Commission (NPC) with state and local registries to eliminate data gaps and duplication.
“This is not just about bureaucracy,” Okunjimi stressed. “It is about building the digital foundation needed to strengthen identity management, enhance security, and drive sustainable development.”
The Federal Commissioner representing Adamawa State in the NPC, Mr. Clifford Zirra, commended the initiative, describing it as “timely, visionary, and in line with global best practices.”
“These amendments are long overdue,” Zirra said. “The Commission is already working with development partners, including UNICEF, to create a fully interoperable digital platform for recording vital events nationwide.”
He explained that merging the National Population Act with the Births and Deaths Registration Act into one unified law would remove duplication and provide a clear legal framework for managing vital records.
Legal Consultant to the Committee, Ms. Celestial Nwabueze, said the bill aligns with United Nations standards and would establish a modern legal structure for integrating demographic data into governance, planning, and security frameworks.
If passed, the legislation will replace the manual system with a national digital registry, enabling real-time access to population data for policy decisions in health, education, security, and economic planning.
“This is how progressive nations plan their future,” Abbas concluded. “With reliable data, not assumptions.”