Economy
NIN registration: Trade Council seeks review of challenges faced by Nigerians
The US-Nigeria Trade Council, United States of America says there is need to urgently review the challenges faced by Nigerians both at home and in diaspora in the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) registration exercise.
The council made the call in a statement signed jointly by its Executive Director, Mr Titus Olowokere and its Consultant Advisor, Prof. Martin Okafor on Wednesday in Atlanta, and obtained by newsmen in Lagos.
The statement said the NIN registration was a laudable goal for creating a single national identity database for Nigerians.
It said the exercise had the anticipated positive outcomes of enhanced administrative efficiency in budgeting, planning and policymaking.
The council, however, said it was concerned about the time constraints of the directives to force compliance with the NIN registration deadline amid the raging COVID-19 disease.
”In this unprecedented and challenging global pandemic, an estimated 21 million Nigerians, who have not yet registered for their NIN currently face two untenable options,” it said.
According to the statement, they either choose to defy the increased existential health risk of COVID-19 while waiting at NIN registration centres or lose their telephone access due to blocked Subscriber Information Module (SIM) without NIN.
The statement said Nigerians, especially those in diaspora face unique difficulties in complying with the current NIN registration deadline of Feb. 9.
“With pandemic-related travel restrictions in their host countries and pandemic-related income reductions, the additional logistical and processing cost burden for the NIN registration can be prohibitively discouraging.
”The threat of blocked Nigerian phone SIM, which is linked to their bank accounts in Nigeria, presents undesirable difficulties with future financial transactions in Nigeria.
”Nigerians in diaspora incur significant processing fees paid to the proxy agencies for NIN registration, in addition to the prohibitive logistical costs associated with appearing in person at the enrollment centers for the biometric capture.
“These ‘hidden’ costs for a ‘free’ NIN registration generally include costs of a two-day roundtrip travel by air or land, overnight hotel accommodates, car rental, loss of vacation pay, and other travel related costs. ”
The statement said there were only eight published enrollment centres to serve diaspora Nigerians resident in the entire USA.
It said these eight enrollment centres were in five cities, namely: Atlanta (one), Chicago (one), Houston (three), Minnesota (one), and New York (one).
The statement added that in the United Kingdom, there were six enrollment centres in two cities, namely London (four) and Leicester (two).
It said due to these reasons, some Nigerians would have to travel thousands of kilometers for their biometric capturing at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) proxy centres.
”We implore the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, and the Director-General of NIMC, Mr Aliyu Aziz, to intentionally review and alleviate these daunting challenges faced by the NIN registrants who are resident in Nigeria and in diaspora.
”We also advocate for options that minimise the indirect tangible and intangible cost burdens of registration and an increase in the capacity of NIMC to rapidly implement and manage such a massive NIN project through safe and socially-distanced strategies during this deadly pandemic,” it said.
By Sodiq Adelakun
Inflation in Nigeria continued to rise for the twelfth consecutive month in December, with the headline inflation rate reaching 28.92%, up from 28.20% in November.
The National Bureau of Statistics released its consumer price index report on Monday, revealing the ongoing impact of inflation on the country’s economy.
More details to come…
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has announced the first reading of a bill aimed at regulating private schools and tertiary institutions in the state.
The bill, titled “A Bill for a Law to Regulate the Establishment and Operation of Private Nursery, Primary, Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions in Nasarawa State and Other Matters Connected Therewith,” was introduced during the House proceedings on Monday in Lafia.
In addition to this bill, the House also passed two executive bills that focus on promoting education and skills training in the state.
The bills, if passed into law, are expected to enhance the quality of education and boost skills training across Nasarawa State.
Three bills have successfully passed their first reading in Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
The first bill, titled “A Bill For a Law to Establish the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute, Lafia, and other Matters Connected Therewith,” aims to establish a vocati onal and technology institute in Lafia, the state capital. This institute will provide valuable skills training and education to the youth of the region.
The second bill, named “A Bill for A Law to Amend College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, Nasarawa State Law 2020, and Matters Connected Thereof,” seeks to amend the existing law governing the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology in Lafia.
The proposed amendments aim to enhance the college’s operations and ensure it remains at the forefront of agricultural and technological advancements.Lastly, the third bill, titled “the Bill for a Law to Regulate the Establishment and Operation of Private Nursery, Primary, Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions in Nasarawa State and Other Matters Connected Therewith,” focuses on regulating the establishment and operation of private educational institutions in the state.
This bill aims to ensure that these institutions meet certain standards of quality and provide a conducive learning environment for students.
“The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, announced that the second reading of the bill for the establishment of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute, Lafia, and other related matters will take place on October 2.
The second reading of the bill to amend the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, Nasarawa State Law 2020, and matters connected thereof, will be scheduled for October 3.
These bills demonstrate the commitment of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to improving the educational sector and providing opportunities for skills development in the state.
“I will slate Oct. 3, for the second reading of A Bill for A Law to Amend College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, Nasarawa State Law 2020, and Matters Connected Thereof.
“I will also slate Oct. 4 for the second reading of A Bill for a Law to Regulate the Establishment and Operation of Private Nursery, Primary, Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions in Nasarawa State and Other Matters Connected Therewith,” he said.
Earlier, Alhaji Mohammed Omadefu, the Majority Leader of the House, moved motions for the bills to scale first readings.
The Minority Leader of the House, Mr Luka Zhekaba, seconded the motion.
The House unanimously passed the bills into first readings.
The Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf has said the current inflationary pressures might ease by December this year.
Yusuf disclosed this on Sunday in his Half Year Review of 2023.
His review comes amid the effect of fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Consequently, the prices of goods and services sharply increased.
The National Bureau of Statistics said Nigeria’s inflation is 22.41 per cent. Nigerians have continued to lament the hike in the prices of goods and services.
Meanwhile, Yusuf said that the effect of fuel subsidy removal and forex reforms would be in the short term.
According to him, the challenges would gradually reduce before the year ends.
Meanwhile, Yusuf said the CBN should implement a sustainable intervention framework to moderate the volatility in the forex market.
“Inflationary pressure is expected to ease before the end of the year.
“It would pave the way for an equilibrium exchange rate which would be more tolerable and sustainable”, he stated.
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