COVID-19 threat: NIMC workers begin strike, as Nigerians lament NIN frustration
By Ayo Fadimu
Lagos residents have appealed to the Federal Government to address welfare issues of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) workers, to stop their ongoing strike.
The residents made the appeal on Thursday, in Lagos.
The workers’ union, under the aegis of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NIMC branch, had issued a strike notice signed by its President, Lucky Michael, and Secretary, Odia Victor.
“Consequent upon the just concluded congress of the above mentioned association that took place on Jan. 6, 2021, the unit executive directs all members on grade level 12 and below in the head office and state offices to report to their respective duty posts on Jan. 7, 2021 and do nothing”, the union’s strike notice indicated.
It was similar scenario in Bayelsa State as some of the staff of the Commission also embarked embarked on an indefinite strike over poor allowance and poor working conditions in this COVID-19 regime.
Mr. Paul Soroh, who led the angry workers in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday said that while they work under pressure to enable Nigerians get their NIN for onward connection to their SIM cards, the Federal Government has failed to provide necessary tools for them to function effectively.
Explaining further, he said, “The protest that is ongoing nationwide is also as a result of the fact that they have also not been giving us Personal Protective Equipment, even though they were listed as essential workers during in the COVID-19 lockdown.
“As you know, workers on level 12 downwards are not supposed to be at work, but we came out to do this work voluntarily but because of the attitude of government, we are withdrawing our voluntary services until something is done about it.”
A top official of the Commission who spoke with Nigerian NewsDirect said some of the grievances of the workers include poor salary package, poor funding of the offices and operation of the commission. He lamented that there is no provision of stationeries and workers also need to buy data from their poor salaries so as to enable them to work
The workers also complained that there is no provision of fuelling the generators used for operations in case of power outage as well as no provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for exposure to COVID-19 and other hazardous conditions.among other demands.
In the meantime, some residents of Lagos who spoke with our correspondent lamented that the deadline for submission of the National Identity Number (NIN) and the second wave of COVID–19 should be considered while taking decisions on the strike.
Mr Wasiu Ashafa, a motor spare part dealer, said that he was not aware of the strike until he got to NIMC office in Alausa, where he met a lot of people expressing their disappointed.
“ I am not aware there is going to be a strike. I came early this morning so as to return to my shop after registration. They have wasted my time and transport fare, the government should look into the cause of the strike,” he said.
Also, Mr Akintayo James, a civil servant, said that the government should respond to the claim of poor COVID–19 safety arrangement in NIMC offices, so as to end the strike on time.
“Considering the second wave of Coronavirus, there is a need for provision of adequate safety arrangements as requested by striking staff. People are no more observing the safety precautions; they just want to register for NIN,” he said.
Mrs Rasidat Shittu, a public servant, said that the government should look into the remuneration of NIMC staff, as their work now involved risk of contracting COVID-19.
“Government should include hazard allowance and other incentives for NIMC staff. They expose themselves to the danger of contracting COVID–19 each day they come to the office due to the crowd they attend to,” she said.
Mr Adigun Kazeem, a student, urged the government to review the deadline for NIN submission, considering the number of people that still want to be registered.
“Government should consider extending the deadline to control the rate at which people rush to NIMC offices to avoid the spread of Coronavirus” he said.
Another worker, Mrs Grace Ayinde, also said that safety of staff should be prioritised to curtail COVID-19 spread among NIMC staff.
“Safety of the staff should be prioritised for them to work without fear of contracting the virus. This is part of the reason for the strike” she said.
The strike circular further read: “All members at the local government offices and special centres are advised to stay away from their various centres as task force and implementation committees would be on parade to ensure total compliance to the directive.”
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Communications Commission had asked all telecom firms to disconnect SIM cards of all persons who have not integrated their NIN with their phone lines by the end of January.
