The Federal Government of Nigeria has mandated the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) starting from 1st of January 2018 for citizens to be able to enjoy government services. In a meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 12, 2018, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the compulsory use of the NIN.
According to the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Aziz, all federal government Ministries, Department, and Agencies, that takes records of personnel or provide services requiring the identification of a person, must demand the NIN of any person in need of services starting from 1st January 2019.
He further stressed that the process and application of the NIN will be simple and that no Nigerian will be denied government services even though they don't have the NIN, but they should endeavor and register as this is strategic in government policymaking.
“The process is simple and shall bring no stress to anyone. When the Federal Executive Council says mandatory usage of the NIN from January 1, 2019, it means that from that date onward, the agencies providing services listed under Section 27 of the NIMC Act and Section 1 of the Mandatory Use of the National Identification Number Regulations 2017 shall demand the NIN from citizens or legal residents before offering them any service.”
“We have the mandate to register all Nigerians and legal residents or at least over 95 percent of the population within the next three years. It does not necessarily mean that NIMC must have offices or enrolment centers in all nooks and crannies of the country, especially given the current economic situation and realities in our country.
“Instead, in its wisdom the Federal Government approved the new digital identity ecosystem which ensures and mandates all government agencies earlier mentioned and private sector organizations to be licensed by NIMC, to collect citizens’ data using guidelines issued by the NIMC and through secure approved channels of communication send such data to NIMC to generate the NIN.
“This Strategic Roadmap, which is supported by the World Bank, puts Nigeria on the path to becoming one of the leading countries in the World with a verifiable and credible identity system, which is the bedrock for planning, financial management, and shrewd budgetary scheme,” he explained.
“NIMC is empowered to ensure strict compliance with the NIN requirement and can demand evidence of compliance from a person or entity; caution a non-compliant person or entity in writing; sanction a non-compliant person or entity by the imposition of administrative fines or institute criminal or civil actions against the non-complaint person or entity,” Engr. Aziz stated.