Senator Ede Dafinone, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, has expressed confidence that the proposed Compulsory Civil Registration Act, 2025 will greatly improve Nigeria’s civil registration system and contribute to more effective national planning.
The senator made the remarks at a recent public hearing on the bill, which forms part of ongoing legislative efforts to update and modernize the country’s civil registration framework.
A member of the Senate Committee on National Identity Card and Population, Senator Dafinone took an active part in the hearing alongside other key stakeholders. The committee, chaired by Senator Victor Umeh, brought together lawmakers, government agencies, and sector experts to examine the bill and discuss its potential impact.
Reports from the session indicate that the proposed legislation aims to repeal existing, outdated civil registration laws and introduce a comprehensive, fully digital system for registering births, deaths, marriages, and other vital events. The reforms are designed to improve data accuracy, strengthen the collection of vital statistics, and provide dependable information to support national development planning and policymaking.
Several major government institutions made submissions at the hearing, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the National Population Commission (NPC), the Ministry of Public Health, and other relevant bodies. These agencies offered insights, suggested amendments, and practical recommendations to strengthen the bill and ensure effective nationwide implementation.
Senator Dafinone and other contributors stressed that a modern civil registration system is critical to inclusive governance, efficient service delivery, and sound economic planning. They noted that accurate and comprehensive population data would enable governments at all levels to plan better for healthcare, education, security, and social welfare programmes.
The hearing ended with stakeholders expressing confidence that the constructive discussions would help shape a stronger final version of the bill. They agreed that, once enacted, the Compulsory Civil Registration Act, 2025 would provide the foundation for a modern, inclusive, and efficient civil registration system that benefits all Nigerians.
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