Senate Advocates Electronic, Integrated Civil Registration to Enhance National Planning

By Ugbede James Ankpa

The Senate has called for the adoption of an electronic and integrated civil registration system as a critical step toward strengthening national planning and governance in Nigeria.

This position was made known by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity Card and National Population, Senator Victor Umeh, during a public hearing organised by the committee in Abuja.

The hearing focused on a bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Births, Deaths, etc. (Compulsory Registration) Act, Cap. B9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and to Enact the Compulsory Civil Registration Act, 2025 to Provide for an Electronic Civil Registration System and Other Related Matters.” The bill was sponsored by Senator Umeh.

In his address, Senator Umeh observed that many countries across the world had transitioned to digital and integrated civil registration systems, urging Nigeria to follow the same path. He stressed that effective global competitiveness and sound national planning depended on moving away from paper-based and inconsistent records to a fully electronic and integrated platform.

According to him, the proposed reform is essential to ensure that every birth and death in Nigeria is properly and accurately recorded. He described civil registration as the foundation for credible population data, effective national planning and transparent governance.

Umeh explained that the public hearing was convened to gather expert opinions, sectoral views and stakeholder recommendations that would assist in producing a law aligned with global best practices. He noted that Nigeria had for decades operated under an outdated civil registration framework that could no longer support modern development demands.

He further lamented that reliance on estimated population projections and fragmented identity systems had continued to undermine accurate planning in critical sectors such as education, healthcare and national security.

The lawmaker stated that the bill seeks to ensure the compulsory registration of every birth and death in the country, irrespective of location, socio-economic status, gender or religious affiliation. He added that it would enable real-time digital registration nationwide, including in rural areas, through mobile and electronic platforms.

The proposed legislation, he said, would also strengthen the national identity architecture by promoting synergy among key agencies such as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), National Population Commission (NPC), Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and health institutions.

In his opening remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described accurate and comprehensive civil registration as “the very DNA of our sovereign state.” He noted that reliable vital records empower government to plan effectively, allocate resources efficiently and provide legal identity for every citizen.

Akpabio, who was represented by the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Peter Nwebonyi, assured that the National Assembly was committed to creating a legislative framework that supports data-driven governance and national security.

He emphasized that a seamless, efficient and reliable system for registering births, deaths, marriages and divorces is a non-negotiable requirement for a credible national identity card system, which he said remains central to Nigeria’s collective security.