By Our correspondent
Senator Victor Umeh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, has underscored the need for greater collaboration and coordination among government agencies responsible for civil registration in Nigeria.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the National Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Coordination Committee, held on Thursday at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Umeh expressed concern over the overlapping mandates of the National Population Commission (NPC), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and local government authorities. He warned that such duplication could hinder progress towards achieving comprehensive coverage of births and deaths across the country.
“Coordination is essential,” the senator said. “We must find a way to link the data from various agencies to ensure a unified approach to civil registration. Without harmonisation of our legal and policy frameworks, we risk stagnating our efforts to register births and deaths effectively.”
Umeh explained that the meeting had created a platform to assess the state of civil registration in Nigeria, a process hampered for years by insufficient data on births, deaths and migration. He identified the forthcoming biometric Population and Housing Census as a crucial opportunity to strengthen the accuracy of civil registration records.
“Reliable data is crucial for planning and implementing policies that affect our citizens. The census will provide us with verifiable data to determine the coverage for birth and death registrations in Nigeria,” he said.
In a commitment to strengthening the CRVS system, Umeh assured the committee of the National Assembly’s readiness to prioritise the swift passage of the Birth, Death, etc. (Compulsory Registration) Bill, a law that will mandate and streamline the registration process nationwide.
Also speaking at the meeting, Hon. Okunjimi Odimayo, Chairman of the House Committee on National Population and Identity, echoed Umeh’s views. He noted that the next census would greatly assist the National CRVS Coordination Committee by generating the baseline data required for effective registration. He added that the bill, when passed, would support the digital transformation of CRVS systems and enable data integration across relevant agencies.
In his address, the Chairman of the NPC, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, called for dedicated budget lines for CRVS at both federal and state levels, arguing that such provisions would speed up registration processes and strengthen a comprehensive, inclusive system.
“This committee is not merely about administrative tasks; it is foundational to legal identity, social protection, effective governance and national development,” Kwarra said. He stressed the importance of timely and accurate records of births, deaths and other vital events to achieve a secure, digital and accessible CRVS framework.
He revealed that the committee comprises representatives from multiple sectors, including federal ministries, NIMC, the National Bureau of Statistics, the National Information Technology Development Agency and private sector partners. This broad membership, he said, reflects the multi-sectoral collaboration required to build a resilient civil registration system.
Kwarra outlined the committee’s key objectives: fostering stakeholder coordination, harmonising legal frameworks, promoting digital innovation and ensuring sustainable investment in the CRVS ecosystem. Despite challenges such as incomplete coverage and inadequate funding, he expressed confidence that the committee could turn these obstacles into opportunities.
“A functional CRVS system is essential for national planning, health system strengthening and sustainable development,” he added.
The meeting drew representatives from government institutions, civil society organisations and international partners, who discussed strategies for improving civil registration nationwide. Participants overwhelmingly endorsed Senator Umeh’s call for a unified system, noting that better coordination would enhance data collection and improve the delivery of public services.
As the session concluded, delegates expressed a shared sense of urgency to take concrete steps towards establishing a robust CRVS framework, one that ensures that every birth and death is documented, thereby contributing to effective governance and an improved quality of life for Nigerians.
