By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) — Nigeria moved a step closer to overhauling its statistical framework on Monday as the House of Representatives Committee on National Planning and Economic Development held a public hearing on the proposed Statistics Bill 2025, a legislation aimed at modernising the country’s official data ecosystem.
The bill seeks to repeal the existing Statistics Act of 2007 and establish a new legal framework for the production, coordination and dissemination of official statistics in line with the demands of the digital age.
In a statement released on its official X handle, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) described the hearing as a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s statistical system and improve the quality of data available for governance and development planning.
According to the bureau, the proposed legislation is designed to enhance the responsiveness, effectiveness and relevance of the nation’s statistical architecture, while promoting statistical development across all levels of government.
The bill is also expected to improve coordination within the National Statistical System (NSS) and provide more sustainable mechanisms for financing statistical activities nationwide.
The public hearing attracted a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including members of the National Assembly, representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, academics, civil society organisations and other actors within the National Statistical System.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, was represented at the event by the House Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere.
The NBS commended the National Assembly, particularly the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, for driving the legislative initiative and creating an avenue for stakeholder engagement and contributions.
The bureau noted that once enacted, the Statistics Bill 2025 would strengthen the institutional framework for official statistics and enhance the capacity of statistical agencies to produce timely, reliable, relevant and credible data needed for effective governance, evidence-based policymaking and sustainable national development.
Reaffirming its role as coordinator of the National Statistical System, the NBS pledged to continue working closely with stakeholders to support the successful implementation of the proposed law and advance statistical excellence across the country.
