Senate backs electronic birth, death registration, moves to repeal 2004 Act

The senate on Monday called for the adoption of an electronic and integrated civil registration system to strengthen national planning and governance.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday at a public hearing, Victor Umeh, senator representing Anambra central and chairman of the senate committee on national identity card and national population, said the global shift towards digital and integrated civil registration systems has made it necessary for Nigeria to follow suit.

The hearing focused on a bill seeking to repeal the Births, Deaths, etc. (Compulsory Registration) Act, Cap B9, LFN 2004, and enact the Compulsory Civil Registration Act, 2025.

“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.

The lawmaker, who sponsored the bill, said the reform is critical to ensuring accurate recording of every birth and death in the country.

Umeh described civil registration as the foundation for credible population data, effective national planning and transparent governance.

He said the public hearing was organised to gather expert opinions, sectoral perspectives and stakeholder recommendations to shape a law that reflects global best practices.

Umeh added that Nigeria had operated for decades under an outdated civil registration framework that could not meet modern development needs.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 senator said the bill seeks to guarantee the registration of every birth and death regardless of location, socio-economic status, gender or faith.

He added that the proposed law would enable real-time digital registration nationwide, including rural communities, through mobile and electronic platforms.

Umeh said the bill would also strengthen the national identity architecture through synergy among the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), National Population Commission (NPC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and health institutions.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio described accurate and comprehensive civil registration as “the very DNA of our sovereign state”.

Akpabio, represented by Onyekachi Nwebonyi, deputy chief whip of the senate, said vital registration empowers the government to plan effectively and allocate resources efficiently.

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,” the senate president said.

Aminu Yusuf, chairman of the NPC, said the proposed amendments could not have come at a better time.

Represented by Clifford Zirra, federal commissioner for Adamawa state, Yusuf said the commission is working to mainstream technology and develop interoperable digital platforms.

He said the NPC had collaborated with private consultants with support from UNICEF throughout the review process.

Yusuf commended the senate committee and stakeholders and called for holistic amendments to existing population and registration laws to eliminate duplication and enhance implementation.

Daniel Okoh, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), applauded the senate for taking what he described as a bold step to repeal the 2004 Act.

Okoh urged the committee to amend section nine of the bill by replacing “religious minister” with “clergy”.

“Anybody can claim to be a religious minister; we need clarity on who qualifies as clergy, including pastors, priests and imams,” the CAN president said.