The Federal Government has suspended staff accused of extortion at the NIMC registration centres.
It was learnt that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has ordered the immediate suspension of officials involved in the extortion of applicants at the National Identity Management Commission offices in Bauchi and Kaduna states.
This came after Nigerians attempting to register with the NIN alleged that some NIN staff, especially at the registration centres in Bauchi and Kaduna, were exploiting the process to extort money from them.
A spokesman for the commission, Kayode Adegoke, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the act was contrary to the Federal Government’ s policy directive requiring mobile network subscribers to update their registration in the subscriber identification module with a valid NIN.
Pantami reiterated his position of zero tolerance for extortion, bribery and corruption.
He pointed out that such unethical practices have the potential to derail the SIM- NIN integration project if not nipped in the bud by taking action against the perpetrators.
The minister said registration with the NIN was free, adding that no one should ever pay for a registration form or for the collection of their biometric data.
All persons involved in NIN registration and issuance must perform their respective duties professionally, fairly and honestly, ” the statement said.
It added: ” In light of the above, we would like to request the public to assist us in implementing our obligations by providing us with evidence of any predatory activity in and around our registration centres.
It called on the public to provide snapshots, pictures and other evidence to help the government address the problem
