The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for a modern, technology-driven system for the registration of births, deaths, marriages, and other vital events.
Declaring open a public hearing on the Bill to Repeal and Re-enact the Births, Deaths, Compulsory Registration, Dr. Tajudeen described accurate data as the foundation of effective national planning and governance.
The Speaker, represented by a member from Cross River State Godwin Offiono, said the proposed legislation seeks to modernize Nigeria’s civil registration system by introducing an electronic framework for collecting and managing vital statistics.
“Accurate and timely registration of births, stillbirths, deaths, marriages, and other vital events is essential for national planning, social development, and good governance,” Abbas said. “The current Act was made for a different era—one without digital tools or modern data systems.”
According to the Speaker, the electronic registration framework will help eliminate duplication and fraud, enhance identity management, and improve access to certificates across all regions.
The Chairman House Committee on Population, Mr. Odimayo Okunjimi, said the existing legal framework for civil registration is obsolete and incapable of meeting the demands of a digitally driven society.
According to Okunjimi, weak data integration between federal and state systems, and an absence of digital infrastructure for secure and accessible recordkeeping. The Chairman said that without reliable civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS), the nation would lack the foundation for effective planning, social services delivery, and population management.
Also speaking, the federal Commissioner representing Adamawa in the National Population Commission (NPC), Mr, Clifford Zirra, said the proposed amendments were imperative in improving the mandate of the population commission.
The NPC Commissioner said the bill will eliminate duplication, ensure clarity, and facilitate effective implementation of the mandate of the Commission.
