The House of Representatives has unveiled plans to give the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) financial autonomy, a step aimed at strengthening the agency’s independence and efficiency.
We gathered that this was disclosed by the Chairman of the House Committee on National Planning, Rep. Gboyega Isiaka, on Friday in Abuja while receiving a visiting delegation from the Liberian House of Representatives on a bilateral learning exchange.
Isiaka explained that the committee is determined to secure sustainable funding for the NBS, while also boosting transparency and public trust in the data it produces for national growth and policy planning.
He revealed that lawmakers were considering the creation of a National Tax Trust Fund, where institutions and stakeholders that rely heavily on NBS data would contribute to ensure steady financing for the bureau.
According to him, the new bill would also give the agency the authority to source data directly from private sector operators, stressing that financial independence was crucial for NBS to function effectively.
He recalled that the existing NBS Act, which was last amended in 2007 from its original 1957 version, no longer adequately addressed current realities, hence the need for reforms.
“The bill, recently passed at First Reading, aims to enhance NBS independence, especially in funding, moving beyond reliance on government budget allocations,” Isiaka said.
He added that the National Strategy for Developmental Statistics 2024–2028 had assigned expanded responsibilities to the bureau, making autonomy indispensable to achieving its objectives.
Also speaking, Rep. Mike Jurry, Chairman of Liberia’s Ways, Means and Finance Committee, commended Nigeria’s progress in developing its statistical sector. He said Liberia’s parliamentarians embarked on the visit to learn from Nigeria’s advanced systems.
“We have about 5.2 million people; Nigeria has more than 200 million. The comparison shows why we came to learn from Nigeria’s more developed infrastructure and data systems,” Jurry said.
On his part, Nigeria’s Statistician General, Mr. Semiu Adeniran, gave the Liberian lawmakers an overview of NBS operations, recent innovations, and the role of the Economic and National Planning Committee in advancing statistical reforms.
Adeniran stressed that the engagement between the two parliaments was not only enriching but also key to fostering stronger collaboration in strengthening statistical legislation and improving data quality across both nations.
