Niger Assembly passes NSTITDEC establishm bill into law

By: Adelowo Oladipo, Minna

The Niger State House of Assembly has considered and passed into law a Bill to establish the Niger State Information Technology and Digital Economy Commission (NSTITDEC) as an independent statutory body.

The Commission is expected to promote, regulate, and facilitate the development of Information Technology, Digital Economy innovation and energy technologies in Niger State, and for other related matters, 2025.

The passage of the Bill followed the presentation of a joint report by the House Standing Committees on Information, Communication and Digital Economy; Education, Science and Technology; and Judiciary and Legal Matters.

The report was presented at plenary by the Chairman of the Committees, Hon. Mohammed Sani Idris, Member Representing Tafa Constituency.

While presenting the report, Hon. Mohammed Sani Idris explained that the Bill was earlier referred to the Committees for further legislative action, with a mandate to report back to the House within two weeks.

He added that the Committees invited relevant stakeholders to a stakeholders’ meeting to ensure inclusiveness, transparency, and to receive technical and professional inputs.

The stakeholders invited included the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Budget and Planning, Office of the Head of Service, Ministry of Justice, and the Nigerian Bar Association.

According to him, the outcome of the meeting and a careful study of the Bill formed the basis of the Committee’s findings and recommendations.

The Committees observed, among others, that the Bill seeks to establish NSTITDEC as an independent statutory body to promote, regulate, and facilitate the growth of Information Technology and Digital Economy initiatives in Niger State.

The Bill also aims to serve as a central body for partnerships between the government, private sector, and educational institutions for digital transformation.

It further seeks to support innovation, digital skills development, digital literacy, startups, and technology entrepreneurship, while aligning state policies with national legislation, including the Nigerian Startup Act, 2022.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Barr. (Dr) Abdulmalik Mohammed Sarkin-Daji, who presided over the plenary, commended the Committees for a job well done.

He later announced that the House would adjourn till 27th January, 2026, for the commencement of the first plenary sitting of the House in 2026.

The Speaker also wished all Members a peaceful Christmas and New Year celebrations.