Abuja — The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, has welcomed the newly signed National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026, describing it as a transformative reform that will modernise Nigeria’s digital identity architecture and enhance evidence-based national planning.
Speaking during a strategic meeting with NIMC Director-General Dr. Abisoye Odusote in Abuja on Monday, Bagudu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to full implementation of the legislation, which he said will improve governance, public service delivery, and policymaking across the country.
“The impact of this legislation will ultimately depend on its effective implementation and the value it delivers to citizens,” Bagudu emphasised.
He commended the NIMC leadership for successfully steering the bill through the legislative process after years of effort, noting that the Act provides a robust legal framework for a secure, trusted, and inclusive national identity system.
A statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Julie Osagie Jacobs, quoted the minister as calling for stronger collaboration among federal, state, and local governments to eliminate fragmented identity databases and build public confidence in the system.
Bagudu stressed that the National Identification Number (NIN) must become the country’s single, universally accepted means of identification. He highlighted the importance of a comprehensive national identity database in providing accurate demographic and socio-economic data for resource allocation, development planning, and service delivery down to the ward level.
The minister also urged NIMC to prioritise data governance, privacy protection, and cybersecurity, especially as Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies reshape the digital landscape.
Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, described the NIMC Act 2026 as a landmark achievement following nearly two decades of legislative efforts.
Earlier, Dr. Odusote briefed the ministers on key provisions of the new law, which repeals the 2007 Act. The updated legislation establishes the NIN as the foundational identifier under the “one person, one identity” policy, designates NIMC as the root certificate authority for digital infrastructure, introduces strict data protection and cybersecurity measures, and provides for a general multi-purpose identity card.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the NIMC Act into law on 26 June 2026. The reforms are expected to significantly reduce identity fragmentation across government institutions and support more efficient, transparent, and inclusive public service delivery nationwide.
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