Overview

The National Archives Act is a Nigerian federal legislation enacted on July 8, 1992, which establishes the National Archives of Nigeria as a Federal Department responsible for the permanent custody, care, and control of all archives of the Federal Government. The Act is divided into four parts: Part I covers the establishment and functions of the National Archives and the appointment of a Director; Part II addresses the preservation and management of public records, including responsibilities for records management, prohibitions, designation of departmental records management officers, power of the Director to examine public records, operations of records centres, assessment of practices, reports on records condition, training, criteria for permanent preservation, records transfer, requisition of endangered records, transfer of defunct office records, preservation of constitutional documents, statutory delivery of official publications, deferment of transfer, return of records to public offices, declaration and power over places of deposit, return of illegally removed archives, repatriation of migrated archives, acquisition of Presidential records, disposal of non-archival records, restrictions on private archives disposal, public access, reproduction and publication, legal validity, authentication of copies, and reconstruction of archives, as well as establishment of State Archives. Part III deals with preservation and management of records of private bodies, individuals, and companies, including inspection, registration, responsibilities of owners, restrictions on disposal and export, voluntary and compulsory transfer, records of banned parties, acquisition by gift or purchase, collection of oral traditions, establishment of archives by business houses, and compulsory transfer of business records. Part IV contains miscellaneous provisions: appointment and functions of the National Archives Advisory Council, power of the Minister to make regulations, offences and penalties for unauthorized export, removal, and destruction of archives, and interpretation and citation. Key entities include the National Archives of Nigeria, the Director, the Federal Government, State Governments, the Minister, the National Archives Advisory Council, departmental records management officers, owners of private archives, and business houses. The Act consolidates and updates previous archival legislation, aiming to ensure proper management, accessibility, and preservation of Nigeria's documentary heritage.

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