The National Bureau of Statistics is on the path to gaining financial autonomy as lawmakers push for reforms to strengthen the agency’s independence and improve national data credibility.

According to Rep. Gboyega Isiaka, Chairman of the House Committee on National Planning, the committee prioritizes guaranteeing adequate funding, transparency, and public confidence in NBS statistics for Nigeria’s development planning.

“The bill aims to enhance NBS independence, especially in funding, moving beyond reliance on government budget allocations,” Isiaka said.

A key reform under consideration is the establishment of a National Tax Trust Fund, allowing stakeholders benefiting from NBS data to contribute to sustainable funding. This move would empower the bureau to collect data directly from private sector entities, expanding NBS coverage and reliability.

Isiaka emphasized that financial autonomy is crucial for delivering timely and dependable statistics without budgetary delays. The existing NBS Act, enacted in 1957 and last amended in 2007, is outdated, leaving funding gaps that weaken the bureau’s effectiveness. The reform bill, which has passed First Reading, seeks to overhaul the framework.

Rep. Mike Jurry, Chairman of Liberia’s Ways, Means, and Finance Committee, commended Nigeria’s progress in strengthening statistical infrastructure.

“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.

Nigeria’s Statistician-General, Semiu Adeniran, briefed the Liberian lawmakers on recent NBS innovations and the role of Nigeria’s National Planning Committee in pushing reforms.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining NBS independence, assuring the agency will operate without interference.