By Nelson Agbajor
ABUJA/Nigeria: Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, has expressed confidence that the proposed Compulsory Civil Registration Act, 2025 will significantly strengthen Nigeria’s civil registration framework and provide reliable data to support effective national planning and governance.
The Senator spoke at a recent public hearing on the bill, convened as part of ongoing legislative efforts to modernise Nigeria’s civil registration system. Dafinone, a key member of the Senate Committee on National Identity Card and Population, participated actively in the session alongside other lawmakers and stakeholders.
The committee, chaired by Senator Victor Umeh, brought together representatives of relevant government agencies, sector experts and development partners to examine the scope, implications and implementation strategies of the proposed legislation.
The bill seeks to repeal obsolete civil registration laws and replace them with a comprehensive, technology-driven framework that mandates the registration of births, deaths, marriages and other vital life events through a fully electronic system. The reform is aimed at improving data accuracy, strengthening the collection of vital statistics and ensuring the availability of credible population data for informed policymaking and development planning.
During the hearing, key institutions including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the National Population Commission (NPC), the Ministry of Public Health and other relevant agencies made detailed submissions. They offered observations, proposed amendments and practical recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the bill and ensure its seamless implementation across the country.
Senator Dafinone and other participants stressed that a modern and compulsory civil registration system is fundamental to inclusive governance and efficient service delivery. They noted that accurate population data would enable governments at all levels to plan more effectively for healthcare, education, security and social welfare programmes.
The public hearing concluded with broad consensus among stakeholders that the quality of deliberations would positively shape the final version of the bill. Participants expressed optimism that, when passed into law, the Compulsory Civil Registration Act, 2025 would lay a strong foundation for a modern, inclusive and efficient civil registration system that serves the interests of all Nigerians.
