House of Reps Advocates Tech-Driven Vital Records Reform

The House of Representatives has urged the establishment of a fully digital civil registration system for births, deaths, marriages, and other vital events, emphasizing that accurate population data is critical for effective governance and national planning.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas made the call in Abuja on Wednesday while opening a public hearing on a Bill to Repeal and Re-enact the Births, Deaths, etc. (Compulsory Registration) Act. According to him, the legislation seeks to modernize Nigeria’s outdated civil registration system by introducing a secure electronic framework for collecting, managing, and sharing vital statistics.

“Accurate and timely registration of births, deaths, marriages, and other vital events is the foundation of sound governance,” Abbas said. “The existing Act was crafted for an era without digital tools. Today’s realities—rapid population growth, mobility, and data-driven policymaking—require a system that meets global standards.”

He added that a digital platform would reduce duplication and fraud, improve nationwide access to vital records, and strengthen identity management across public institutions. Abbas noted that the reforms align with international best practices and United Nations recommendations on civil registration and vital statistics.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Population, Odimayo Okunjimi, described the current law as obsolete and insufficient for modern governance. He stressed that without reliable civil registration and vital statistics, government planning, social service delivery, and population management remain severely constrained.

“This bill seeks to establish a unified, technology-driven framework for registering births, deaths, marriages, divorces, adoptions, and other vital events. It will clarify institutional roles and strengthen coordination between the National Population Commission, state registries, and local government councils,” Okunjimi said. He added that modernizing the system is a national imperative that will enhance security, identity management, and sustainable development.

Federal Commissioner representing Adamawa State in the NPC, Clifford Zirra, commended the initiative, noting that the reform comes at a critical time as the commission integrates digital technology into its operations. He said the amendment will ensure interoperability between government platforms and address long-standing implementation gaps.

Legal consultant to the committee, Celestial Nwabueze, said the proposed law provides a clear legal framework for a comprehensive national civil registry. Once enacted, it will replace outdated legislation, establish a unified national digital database, and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for data-driven policymaking and security planning.

Civil registration remains one of Nigeria’s weakest governance systems. According to UNICEF and the NPC, only about 57% of births and less than 20% of deaths are currently registered nationwide, with rural areas and hard-to-reach communities recording even lower figures. Factors such as outdated legal frameworks, fragmented data systems, limited infrastructure, low awareness, and weak enforcement contribute to this gap.

Without accurate records, Nigeria cannot reliably determine population size, age distribution, or mortality rates, undermining planning for education, health, and social services. Weak identity management also poses risks for national security, enabling identity fraud and criminal activities.

While pilot projects integrating digital registration platforms and mobile technology have shown promise, nationwide implementation has been slow due to funding constraints, coordination challenges, and legal bottlenecks.