FG, NPC Strengthen Partnership To Integrate Birth Registration Into School Enrollment

FG, NPC Strengthen Partnership to Integrate Birth Registration into School Enrollment The Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Population Commission (NPC) have reaffirmed their commitment to improving civil registration systems by integrating birth registration data into school enrolment processes and broader national planning frameworks as part of the administration’s under PresidentTinubu.The initiative aims to ensure that every Nigerian child has a legal identity from birth, which officials say is key to education planning, accurate demographic statistics, and equitable delivery of public services In a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, Minister Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa highlighted that credible population data is essential for school siting, teacher deployment, enrollment projections and resource allocation. By linking birth registration to school enrollment, the ministry hopes to promote proper age placement and strengthen the integrity of academic records across the system. NPC Chairman Aminu Yusuf stressed that Nigeria’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system plays a crucial role in national planning and social services delivery. He reaffirmed the commission’s mandate to ensure every birth is officially recorded and counted.As part of the partnership, both institutions agreed to establish a Joint Technical Working Group tasked with:

• Harmonizing verification procedures between school systems and NPC databases
• Ensuring interoperability of education and civil registration records
• Expanding access to digital birth registration services nationwide

Government sources indicated that this collaboration is also expected to improve tracking of dropouts and better support child development planning through earlier identification of at-risk children. Birth registration is widely recognised as the foundation of legal identity, enabling access to basic rights such as education, healthcare and social protection. The absence of a birth certificate has been linked to exclusion from critical services and poor planning outcomes. Integration of birth data into school enrollment aligns with global best practices that encourage school-based registration checks to ensure children are documented and supported from the earliest stages of life.

The partnership reflects priorities under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises inclusive development, data-driven policy, and human capital investment. Reliable demographic data is expected to feed into education reforms, social protection programmes, and efforts to ensure equitable access to services for all Nigerian children.

Officials said the government will also continue efforts to expand registration coverage, with digital upgrades and community outreach designed to make birth registration more accessible and efficient for families nationwide.