The House of Representatives has called on the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health, partner agencies, hospitals, and other relevant entities to ensure the enrollment, registration, and generation of National Identification Numbers (NIN) for all Nigerian citizens and residents immediately upon birth.
Additionally, the House has urged NIMC and its partner agencies to promptly address issues hindering the seamless and nationwide NIN registration and card issuance process. This call to action emerged following a motion sponsored by Honorable Olamijuwonlo ALAO Akala, titled “Call for Better Service in the Production of National Identity Number.”
In presenting the motion, Hon. Akala emphasized the critical role of the National Identification Number as a security measure used to correlate individuals with their biometric data, unify records in the database, and establish or verify their identity.
The lawmaker highlighted the challenges faced by Nigerians during the NIN registration process, despite the existence of various enrollment options and service centers. Notably, a significant number of citizens are yet to receive their NIN cards, even after completing the registration successfully.
Hon. Akala underscored the foundational importance of the NIN as an essential component of identifying Nigerians. He expressed concern that the functional identification purpose of the NIN system would be compromised if all citizens cannot readily access their unique national identification numbers.
This legislative intervention by the House of Representatives reflects a commitment to improving the efficiency and accessibility of the National Identification System, reinforcing its significance in national security and identity verification. The call for collaboration with relevant stakeholders aims to streamline the NIN enrollment process, ensuring that citizens receive their identification numbers promptly upon birth.