The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) are moving to formalise collaboration aimed at improving data use, infrastructure mapping, and support for national development.
At a meeting in Abuja, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Statistician-General of the Federation Adeyemi Adeniran discussed ways to integrate their respective datasets for broader public benefit.
Yakubu said INEC maintains Nigeria’s most extensive database of eligible voters, while the NBS oversees the country’s largest statistical system.
He noted that the two institutions could achieve stronger outcomes if they coordinated efforts, particularly in tracking public facilities frequently used during elections.
He urged that surveys conducted by the NBS include the condition of schools and other infrastructure that serve as polling centres, many of which lack basic utilities and accessibility features.
INEC also offered the bureau access to its digital constituency atlas and electoral facility locator, tools designed to provide detailed information on polling units and related infrastructure nationwide.
Adeniran, in response, stressed the importance of linking electoral data with national statistics to improve planning.
He explained that a large share of data required for monitoring sustainable development goals comes from administrative sources, and INEC produces significant volumes of such information.
He announced that the bureau is expanding its Integrated System of Administrative Services, a digital platform for real-time data sharing across ministries and agencies, and plans to include INEC in the next phase.
Both institutions agreed that the partnership will improve governance outcomes, provide more accurate national statistics, and help address challenges that cut across both electoral and development processes.
