The issuing authority for National Identity, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has directed that all transactions involving the identification of individuals must be done with the National Identification Number (NIN) beginning from 1st September this year.
The Commission has therefore urged on all Nigerians to avail themselves the opportunity of enrolment into the National Identity Database and be issued a National Identification Number (NIN), which is the single version of truth and the foundation identity.
Pursuant to section 27 (1) and (2) of the NIMC Act, 2007, the Commission said these transactions, include: application for, and issuance of an International Passport; opening of individual and/or group bank accounts, all consumer credits; purchase of insurance policies; the purchase, transfer and registration of land by any individual; National Health Insurance Scheme, such transactions that have social security implications, registration of voters, payment of taxes, and pensions, etc.
In a statement yesterday, the Commission's General Manager, Inspectorate, Regulatory & Compliance Services, Mrs. Hadiza Dagabana said, "any government agency/institution, bank, insurance company and all other institutions offering services and/or involved in transactions requiring the identity of an individual must first demand for the NIN. Any individual, institutions/body who fails to comply with the above has committed an offence under the punishable under section 28 of the NIMC Act,"
She urged Nigerians to appreciate the full import of the NIMC mandate, and understand that the three decades old problem of identity management in Nigeria has been fixed since 2012 by the provision of a Unique Identification Infrastructure for Nigeria and the subsequent launch of the National e-ID Card scheme in 2014.
On his part, the General Manager, Information Technology/Identity Database, NIMC, Mr. Chuks Onyepunuka said: "Clearly, most people are unable to appreciate the shift in paradigm from 'Card Issuance', their familiar turf, to 'Identity Management', the current global trend, which explains the reason why they insist on getting the physical card even after they have been enrolled and issued their NIN.
"NIMC is focused on establishing 'Foundation Identity' (who you are) as the issuing authority for Nigeria, all other institutions, including the Banks and INEC are focused on 'Functional Identity' (whether you are eligible for a specific service).
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