…Nigeria cannot build a $1trn economy on guesswork – Abbas
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has begun moves to repeal the Statistics Act of 2007 and replace it with a new legal framework designed to modernise Nigeria’s data and statistical system for the digital era. 
The move formed the focus of discussions at a public hearing on the Statistics Bill, 2025, held at the National Assembly on Monday, where lawmakers, government officials, academics, civil society groups and private sector stakeholders examined proposals aimed at strengthening the country’s statistical architecture.
Addressing participants, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said the proposed legislation goes far beyond amending the existing law, describing it as a far-reaching reform intended to reposition Nigeria’s statistical system to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global economy.
According to Abbas, the Statistics Act currently in force was enacted nearly two decades ago under circumstances that bear little resemblance to today’s technology-driven environment.
He emphasised that credible and timely data remain indispensable for national planning, economic growth, budgeting, policy implementation and governance.
The Speaker said: “Today, we live in a fast-evolving digital age where data is generated at a velocity, veracity, volume and variety never seen before. The Statistics Bill, 2025 is not a minor amendment; it is a complete structural overhaul.
“To plan without accurate data is to build a house on quicksand. Delivering on this mandate is impossible without giving the National Bureau of Statistics timely and adequate resources, which highlights why the sustainable funding provisions in this Bill are so critical.”
Abbas argued that Nigeria’s aspiration to build a one-trillion-dollar economy will depend heavily on the availability of accurate, reliable and accessible data.
He noted that decisions on public spending, infrastructure development, social interventions and economic policies must be guided by evidence rather than assumptions.
The Speaker further explained that the proposed legislation seeks to strengthen coordination among agencies responsible for data generation, improve quality assurance mechanisms, promote digital data collection and dissemination, and provide sustainable funding for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
He added that the reforms will bring Nigeria’s statistical system closer to international best practices, improve investor confidence, enhance public service delivery and deepen accountability in governance.
Abbas therefore called on stakeholders to actively contribute to the legislative process, as he said broad consultations are necessary to ensure the final law protects data privacy while promoting accessibility, transparency and credibility.
Also speaking at the hearing, the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics, Adeyemi Adeniran, described the bill as a necessary response to the dramatic changes taking place in the global data ecosystem.
He noted that while the 2007 Act had served the country over the years, advances in technology have transformed how data is generated, analysed and utilised.
According to him: “The increasing use of digital technologies, administrative data systems, geospatial information, Big Data, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and other emerging data sources requires a modern legal framework capable of supporting the evolving needs of the National Statistical System.”
Adeniran explained that the proposed legislation contains eight sections and 42 clauses covering key areas such as statistical governance, institutional development, data collection and management, confidentiality, accountability, funding arrangements and coordination among stakeholders.
He said the reforms will significantly improve the capacity of the National Statistical System to generate reliable and timely information required for planning, policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of government programmes.
The Statistician-General also commended Speaker Abbas and the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, chaired by Rep. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, for driving the legislative initiative.
Participants at the hearing, drawn from government ministries, departments and agencies, academia, civil society organisations and the private sector, are expected to submit recommendations that will shape the final version of the bill before it returns to the House for further consideration.
If passed, the Statistics Bill, 2025 is expected to provide Nigeria with a modern, technology-driven statistical framework capable of supporting national development goals and strengthening the country’s position in an increasingly data-driven global economy.
