The Federal Government has explained why all citizens are expected to have their National Identity Numbers
The government said the National Identity Number is mandatory for transactions such as the opening of bank accounts, payment of taxes, voter registration.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, disclosed why it is essential to have a NIN in Abuja while hosting the newly elected National Executive Council of the Association Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria.
Pantami’s explanation is coming on the heels of operators’ call on the Federal Government to support in the development of a strategic plan to bridge the over N15tn infrastructure funding gap for the telecoms/information communication and technology industry.
In his address at the meeting, Pantami told his guests that the government was determined to ensure that all citizens in Nigeria had their various NINs.
He said, “This is most importantly in the area of NIN, which is a mandatory number, based on the NIMC order of 2007 that has actively been neglected for years.
“It is key to our national planning, budget, security, social development and many more. But it was neglected despite being a mandatory number.”
He added, “So we’ve come up with so many policies trying to ensure that our citizens obtain the number. It is important beyond SIM registration. It is important for whatever you do because it is the primary identity of our citizens.
“There’s no identity that will define you as a citizen more than that number. It is mandatory. And it is mandatory for transactions such as opening bank accounts, paying tax, voter registration and many more.”
The minister argued that Section 27 of the NIMC Act clearly stated that to partake and enjoy government services without the NIN was an offence, which could attract imprisonment as captured in Section 29 of same Act.
Pantami urged operators in the sector to work with the government in ensuring that all citizens in Nigeria had the NIN.
He insisted that the number would benefit the country economically, as the contributions of the telecoms sector to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product would further increase.
