Senate Moves To Replace Paper-based Civil Records With Digital System

The Senate, on Monday, advocated the adoption of an electronic and integrated civil registration system to strengthen national planning and governance in Nigeria.

The call was made by the chairman, Senate Committee on National Identity Card and National Population, Senator Victor Umeh, at a public hearing organised by the committee in Abuja.

The hearing was a bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Births, Deaths, etc. (Compulsory Registration) Act Cap. B9 LFN 2004, and to Enact the Compulsory Civil Registration Act, 2025 to Provide for an Electronic Civil Registration System; and for Other Related Matters, 2025 (SB. 913),” sponsored by Umeh.

In his address, Umeh said the global shift toward digital and integrated civil registration systems made it imperative for Nigeria to follow suit.

“If Nigeria must compete globally and plan effectively, we must transition from paper-based and inconsistent records to a fully electronic and integrated platform,” he said.

According to him, the proposed reform was critical to ensuring that every birth and death in the country is accurately recorded, describing civil registration as the foundation for credible population data, effective national planning and transparent governance.

Umeh explained that the public hearing was aimed at gathering expert opinions, sectoral perspectives and stakeholder recommendations to help shape a law that reflects global best practices.

He added that Nigeria had operated for decades under an outdated civil registration framework incapable of meeting modern development needs.

“We have relied on estimated projections and fragmented identity systems, which challenge the accuracy of planning across education, health and national security,” he said.

The bill, he noted, seeks to guarantee the registration of every birth and death, regardless of location, socio-economic status, gender or faith, while enabling real-time digital registration nationwide, including rural communities, through mobile and electronic means.

He also said the bill would strengthen the national identity architecture through synergy among 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.”

Akpabio, who was represented by the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Peter Nwebonyi, said vital registration empowers government to plan effectively, allocate resources efficiently and provide legal identity for every citizen.

He assured that the National Assembly remained committed to promoting data-driven governance and national security through supportive legislation.

“A seamless, efficient and reliable system of registering births, deaths, marriages and divorces is a non-negotiable prerequisite for a credible national identity card system, which is pivotal to our collective security,” he said.

In his submission, the chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Aminu Yusuf, said the proposed amendments could not have come at a better time.

Represented by the Federal Commissioner for Adamawa State, Clifford Zirra, Yusuf said the commission was working to mainstream technology and digital services, develop interoperable platforms and bridge gaps observed in the implementation of existing laws over the past three decades.

He disclosed that the NPC had collaborated with private consultants, with support from UNICEF, throughout the review process of the bill.

Yusuf commended the Senate committee and stakeholders, recommending a holistic amendment of both the National Population Act and the Births and Deaths (Compulsory Registration) Act to eliminate duplication, ensure clarity and enhance effective implementation of the commission’s mandate.

Also, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, represented by Mrs. Comfort, applauded the Senate for taking what he described as a bold step to repeal the 2004 Act and enact a new law aligned with technological realities.

However, CAN urged the committee to amend Section 9 of the bill by replacing the term “religious minister” with “clergy,” arguing that the latter was more precise and clearly defined.

“Anybody can claim to be a religious minister. We need clarity on who qualifies as clergy, including pastors, priests and imams,” he stated.