NIN enrolment resumes at NIMC offices nationwide
By Ogaga Ariemu
National Identity Number(NIN), enrollment has resumed at the National Identity Management Commission(NIMC) offices on Monday nationwide.
This disclosure was made to Nigerian NewsDirect Newspaper in a statement released by NIMC’s Head Corporate Communications, Mr Kayode Adegoke on Friday night.
The statement reads,
“The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is glad to inform the general public that normal enrolment services for the National Identification Number (NIN) have been fully restored at all NIMC offices nationwide as the glitches experienced since January 6, 2021 have been sorted out.
“Enrolment services were temporarily disrupted when the local chapter of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) of NIMC embarked on an industrial action on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 immediately after their congress.
“However, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali (Pantami), who promptly intervened in the matter, has assured the workers of looking into their grievances and advised them to empathise with Nigerians especially at this time that linkage of the NIN with the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards is ongoing for the security of lives and property in the country.
“While thanking Nigerians for their understanding in the face of the challenges posed by the two-day hiatus in enrolment, Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz, stressed his Management’s avowed pursuit of the welfare, health and safety of all staff of the Commission.
“Engr. Aziz enjoined staff to go about their normal duties while fully observing the COVID-19 protocols as they enrol Nigerians and other eligible individuals. He also gave assurance that more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) would be made available to staff, in addition to those already donated by the World Bank which had since been distributed to all NIMC offices nationwide”.
Earlier following a meeting with the Federal Government, staff of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have agreed to suspend the industrial action embarked upon on Thursday.
Recall that the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), NIMC branch had embarked on a strike over the fear of COVID-19 spread in the agency aswell as lack of adequate funding and equipments.
After a meeting with the Federal Government on Friday, the association agreed to call off the strike after the government agreed that the demands of the employees would be addressed.
The President of ASCSN, Mr Lucky Michael, confirming that the strike had been suspended said workers of the commission across the country were being contacted to resume work by Monday and begin the enrolment of citizens for National Identification Numbers.
He however added that a fresh 21-day ultimatum has been issued to the Federal Government to meet the demands of the NIMC staff or risk a full blown strike.
A Federal Government team led by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami will on Tuesday meet with the representatives of NIMC staff in Abuja to discuss about their welfare.
Executives from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) will also be at the meeting.
