The National Identity Card production and issuance process was encouraged to be improved by the House of Representatives on February 21, 2024, with a call for greater efficiency from the Federal Government of Nigeria. Hon. Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, Chairman of the House Committee on Youth Parliament, played a pivotal role in the passing of the resolution through his sponsored motion. During his opening remarks, Hon. Alao-Akala ensured to highlight the significance of the National Identification Number (NIN).
He also emphasized its status as an exclusive and enduring identification credential bestowed by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to individuals in Nigeria upon registration. The House acknowledges that the National Identification Number serves as a Security feature that connects individuals with their unique biometric information, links all data within the system, and confirms their identity for the purpose of verification. The National Identity Management Commission in Nigeria is responsible for overseeing all aspects of national identity.
It is important that every citizen is able to access their unique NIN.
NIMC’s responsibility also includes the enrollment and distribution of National Identification Numbers and National e-ID cards. The House is cognizant of the Commission’s role and the services it provides to the people of Nigeria. The National Identity Commission (NIMC) in Nigeria is tasked with overseeing the management of the National Identity database, as well as registering individuals, providing them with Unique NINs, and issuing General Multi-Purpose Cards (GMPC). The House is knowledgeable about these functions of the NIMC.
Also, the House has noted that Nigerians are encountering difficult situations during the registration process, despite the availability of multiple enrollment choices and service centres. It is concerning that many Nigerians have still not received their NIN cards even after completing the registration process successfully. He pointed out that in order for the national identification number to serve its intended purpose of identifying Nigerians, it is important that every citizen is able to access their unique NIN.
Issues with card issuance must be resolved quickly.
Furthermore, the House understands the significance of NIN as the core ecosystem for identification in Nigeria. The House emphasized the importance of enhancing service quality by recommending that NIMC work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, various partner organizations, medical facilities, and other related groups to enroll, register, and issue NINs to all Nigerian individuals and residents from the moment of birth. The lawmakers emphasized the importance of quickly resolving the issues surrounding NIN registration and card issuance in order to ensure a smooth and efficient process nationwide.
They called on NIMC and its partner agencies to address these concerns promptly. In order to address the concerns raised by Nigerians regarding the registration process for their National Identification Numbers, the House has tasked its Committee on Population with conducting a thorough investigation into any issues and shortcomings that have been faced. In many countries, governments assign a unique national identification number to track individuals who are citizens, permanent residents, or temporary residents. This number is utilized for various purposes such as work, taxation, government benefits, healthcare, and other governmental functions.
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Different countries have different methods for implementing a system where citizens are assigned an identification number either when they come of legal age or when they are born. Non-citizens, on the other hand, may receive such numbers upon entering the country or when they are granted residency, whether temporary or permanent. Numerous countries originally assigned these numbers for a specific reason, but as time passed, they evolved into a de facto national ID. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) issues and oversees the Nigerian National Identification Number (NIN), which consists of eleven digits such as 12345678900. This unique identifier is given by the Government to all Nigerians and legal residents, regardless of age.