The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has stressed that Nigeria cannot achieve its ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy without a modern and dependable statistical system.
Speaking at a public hearing on the proposed Statistics Bill 2025 in Abuja, Abbas said accurate and timely data must form the foundation of government policies, budget decisions, and development planning.
Represented by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, the Speaker described the current Statistics Act of 2007 as outdated and no longer suited to the realities of a rapidly evolving digital world.
According to him, the proposed legislation seeks to replace the existing law with a stronger framework that will enhance the capacity of the National Bureau of Statistics, improve data governance, ensure sustainable funding, and support the use of emerging technologies in statistical operations.
“To plan without accurate data is to build a house on quicksand,” Abbas said, noting that credible statistics are essential for economic growth, infrastructure development, poverty reduction, and effective governance.
The bill aims to modernise Nigeria’s National Statistical System by strengthening coordination among government agencies, promoting digital data collection and dissemination, improving quality assurance mechanisms, and reducing duplication in data gathering efforts.
Abbas said the reforms would help build confidence in official statistics among investors and development partners both within and outside Nigeria.
He also called on stakeholders from government institutions, academia, civil society organisations, and the private sector to contribute to the legislative process to ensure the final law addresses current and future challenges in data management.
Supporting the bill, Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics, said Nigeria’s statistical system must adapt to technological changes and the growing importance of data-driven decision-making.
Adeniran explained that the proposed law would strengthen institutional coordination, encourage innovation in data production, and improve the availability of reliable statistics for policymaking and national development.
He added that the bill contains 42 clauses covering statistical governance, data management, funding, accountability, confidentiality, and stakeholder collaboration.
If passed, the Statistics Bill 2025 is expected to become the most significant reform of Nigeria’s official statistical system in nearly two decades, providing a stronger foundation for evidence-based governance and economic planning.
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