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Can the Government See You?
This paper argues that without a unified National Identification (NI) and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system, Nigeria cannot govern effectively. With over 49% of Sub-Saharan African children unregistered and fragmented ID systems across federal agencies, millions of Nigerians remain “invisible” to the state. The article emphasises that good governance—especially in budgeting, service delivery, and social protection—depends on credible, routinely updated citizen data. Among other things, it proposes that Local Governments, empowered by new financial autonomy, should lead CRVS efforts, supported by interoperable digital infrastructure, including biometrics, AI, and blockchain. Strengthening identity systems will not only increase policy efficiency but also enhance equity and inclusion in public service delivery. The paper holds that data is not just a technical issue—it is a governance imperative.
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