NIN: FG Suspends Officials Over Extortion At NIMC Centres

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, on Sunday ordered the suspension of workers accused of extortion at enrolment centres of the National Identity Management Commission.

Pantami ordered the suspension of the staff members involved in extortion of applicants at the NIMC Bauchi and Kaduna state offices.

NIMC noted that the workers were suspended following the claim that some personnel of the commission particularly at enrolment centres in Bauchi and Kaduna are extorting applicants.

The spokesman for the commission, Kayode Adegoke, in a statement released noted that the development is against the policy directive of the Federal Government, which required mobile network subscribers to update their Subscriber Identification Module registration with a valid NIN.

Pantami while speaking on the suspension said such act if permitted has the potency of derailing the SIM-NIN integration project.

The minister said enrolment for NIN was free of charge, adding that on no occasion should anyone pay to obtain an enrolment form or to have their biometrics captured.

“All personnel involved in the enrolment and NIN issuance exercise must carry out their respective duties professionally, fairly and with integrity.”

It added, “In light of the above, we wish to call on the general public to assist us in putting our commitments into action by sending proof of any nefarious activity within and around our enrolment centres.”

It urged the public to provide snapshots, footage and other proofs to help the government address the matter.