On November 10, 2025, the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committees on ICT and Cybersecurity, and Digital and Information Technology held a one-day public hearing on the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill 2025 at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. Stakeholders from the public and private sectors came together during the hearing to deliberate on the provisions of the bill, which aims to establish a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for Nigeria’s digital transformation.
The National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill 2025, the first-of-its-kind in Africa, seeks to promote the adoption of digital technologies across all sectors of the economy by strengthening legal recognition for electronic communications, records, and contracts; mandating digital transformation across public institutions; and ensuring ethical, transparent, and risk-based governance of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
The bill has gone through an extensive review process since its introduction, having been presented to stakeholders across all 36 states of the federation and the FCT, making it the first bill to be so presented across Nigeria. This level of consultation reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that the voices of all stakeholders, including citizens, industry players, academia, and civil society actors, are well represented in shaping the future of Nigeria’s digital economy and governance systems.
The Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, commended the Joint Committees for their leadership in advancing the bill, which he said aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. In his words: “The National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill represents a major step toward institutionalising the reforms that will position Nigeria as a global leader in digital governance.”
The Minister added: “We are extremely fortunate as a nation to be blessed with a President with clarity on the path to prosperity, not just for a few, but for the generality of Nigerians. The leadership that we are seeing on display today, and over the last two years, is an example of how the Legislators are working with the Executive, private sector, and civil society to give Nigeria the digitally-enabled future that we deserve.”
In his own remarks, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, emphasised the importance of the bill in securing Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and ensuring compliance with global cybersecurity standards. He said: “This bill has the potential to transform our country into the league of big players globally, and to also ensure that the vision of this administration to turn Nigeria into a $1 trillion economy is achieved sooner than later. The National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill, for which we are gathered today, will be the most defining bill in the 10th National Assembly of Nigeria.”
Also speaking at the public hearing, Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide, the Chairman of the House Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, noted that the bill reflects a bipartisan effort to create a harmonised digital ecosystem. According to Hon. Olajide, “This hearing demonstrates our collective resolve to build a digitally inclusive, transparent, and efficient government system for our nation. The rich contributions from diverse stakeholders, robust debates, and expert insights from this hearing will go a long way in demonstrating our shared vision for Nigeria’s digital transformation.”
