A bill seeking to provide a legal framework for the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy and the institutionalisation of e-governance has passed its second reading at the House of Representatives.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide a Legal Framework for the Enhancement and Growth of Digital Economy and E-Governance in Nigeria and Related Matters, 2025,” aims to promote efficiency, innovation, service delivery, and transparency across all levels of government.
Key Provisions of the Bill
The bill, sponsored by Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Stanley Olajide, Chairman of the House Committee on Digital Information, Communication Technology and Cybersecurity, consists of 14 parts and 63 sections. It covers key areas such as
– Electronic transactions: Providing a legal framework for digital transactions and payments.
– Digital payments: Regulating digital payment systems to promote financial inclusion.
– E-commerce: Providing a framework for e-commerce transactions and digital marketplaces.
– Government data preservation: Ensuring the security and preservation of government data.
– Digital trust certification: Providing a framework for digital trust certification and authentication.
The lawmaker representing the Ibadan Northwest/Ibadan Southwest federal constituency of Oyo State, Hon Olajide, noted that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will be mandated to establish ICT units, digitise their services, implement cybersecurity protocols, and report annually on their progress, ensuring accountability and sustainability.
Citing economic data, the two-term PDP lawmaker said Nigeria’s digital economy currently contributes between 16 and 18 per cent to the national GDP. He projected that with proper legal backing, the figure could rise to 22 per cent by 2030.
Olajide maintained that the cost implication of the bill’s implementation remains a necessary investment in national development and a pathway to eliminating bureaucratic inefficiencies and corruption through technology-driven systems, disclosing that the bill is designed to expand the country’s digital economy, empower youths, and reposition Nigeria as a serious player in the fourth industrial revolution.
Earlier, Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide presented before the house a report of the committee on Digital and Information Technology on the bill for an act to establish the Federal Institute of Information Communication Technology, Idanre, Ondo State, to provide full-time courses, teaching, instructions, and training in Information Communication Technology and to provide for the appointment of the provost and other officers of the institute to carry out the administration and the discipline of students of the institute and for related matters.
