The National Assembly of Nigeria is embarking on a significant reform of its parliamentary records and legislation storage system. The planned reforms include translating federal laws into Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and other Nigerian languages. Additionally, a mobile application for legislative information, a Bills Tracker, digital repositories, and simplified video and infographic explanations of laws and legislative procedures will be developed. This initiative aims to improve access to information, preserve Nigeria's parliamentary history, and enhance public participation in the legislative process.
The National Assembly Library Trust Fund is driving these reforms, with Executive Secretary Henry Nwawuba highlighting the library's evolving role from a mere book storage facility to a critical component of the legislature's knowledge infrastructure and institutional memory. The library holds vital records of Nigeria's democratic development, including Order Papers, Votes and Proceedings, committee reports, Acts passed by the National Assembly, gazetted laws, and oversight manuals. To make these materials more accessible, the library is investing in electronic repositories and upgrading its E-Library.
A key aspect of the reforms is the development of a mobile application that will provide lawmakers, legislative aides, researchers, and the public with easier access to parliamentary information. The library is also creating a Bills Tracker, allowing users to follow bills and monitor their progress through the legislative process. Furthermore, the library will produce infographics, audiovisual materials, and video explainers to make legislation and parliamentary procedures more understandable for Nigerians. Translating laws into major Nigerian languages will also expand access to legislative information.
The reforms aim to address inconsistencies in parliamentary documents and the circulation of fake or unauthorized copies of National Assembly records. Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, emphasized the importance of authenticating parliamentary records, warning that the rapid spread of digital information has increased the risk of altered or unauthorized legislative documents being circulated. He identified the Order Paper, Votes and Proceedings, and Hansard as key records that constitute Nigeria's legislative memory.
Ogunlana stressed that the National Assembly's independence relies on its institutional capacity to generate, preserve, retrieve, and authenticate its records. He called for stronger collaboration between the National Assembly, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, and the Federal Government Press to ensure Nigerians can access current and authoritative versions of federal laws. The continued reliance on the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, LFN 2004, was cited as an example of the challenges in maintaining an up-to-date body of federal legislation.
The expansion of digital parliamentary records will require corresponding investment in cybersecurity and digital preservation. Ogunlana listed secure authentication, access controls, backup systems, and staff training as essential measures to protect parliamentary records. He emphasized that digitization will make legislative information more accessible but also expose records to cyberattacks, manipulation, and impersonation of official sources. Therefore, digital platforms must be both accessible and secure, with electronic records that can be verified, traced, and authenticated.
Lawmakers and stakeholders have emphasized the importance of the National Assembly Library and its role in preserving parliamentary knowledge. Senator Osita Ngwu urged lawmakers to make greater use of the library, particularly in the face of misinformation and disinformation. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, stressed that legislative records are essential to understanding Nigeria's legislative history and strengthening democratic governance. The President of the Nigerian Library Association, Lawal Umar, called for sustained investment in libraries and information technology to improve access to legislative information.
Key points
- The National Assembly of Nigeria is digitizing its records and translating laws into local languages to improve access to information and public participation in the legislative process.
- The reforms aim to address inconsistencies in parliamentary documents and the circulation of fake or unauthorized copies of National Assembly records.
- The digitization of parliamentary records will require corresponding investment in cybersecurity and digital preservation to protect against cyberattacks and manipulation.
