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‘Report Any Unethical Practices You Encounter During NIN Registration’ – NIMC Tells Nigerians

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In the suit number FHC/L/CS/711/2022 filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP sought an order to set aside the directive by Buhari to telecommunications companies to block outgoing calls on all unlinked lines without due process of law. SERPA joined the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his Communications and Digital Economy counterpart, Isa Pantami as respondents in the suit. READ ALSO: SERAP Gives FG 48-Hour Ultimatum To Unblock Millions Of Unregistered SIMs “While Nigerian authorities have a legal responsibility to protect, ensure and secure the rights to life and property, any such responsibility ought to be discharged in conformity with human rights standards,” the suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part. “Fundamental rights are regarded as part of human rights and are protected to enhance human dignity and liberty. “Unblocking the phone lines unlawfully barred from making calls would improve respect for the rule of law, and ensure people’s right to freedom of expression, and access to information, as well as their right to associate with others. “The blocking of people from making calls constitutes impermissible restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, information, and association. “The rights to freedom of opinion and expression and access to information are protected under section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act. “These rights must be protected online as they are protected offline. Any restriction on these rights must be provided by law, be necessary for a democratic society and serve a legitimate aim. “The blocking of people from making calls on their SIMs also amounts to arbitrary or unlawful interference with their right to family life, and socio-economic rights, as it unnecessarily or disproportionately interferes with these fundamental human rights. “The decision to block the phone lines also appears to be arbitrary and lacks any legal framework, independent and judicial oversight. This may allow authorities to act in an unfettered and potentially arbitrary or unlawful manner. “Under international human rights law, States including Nigeria ‘shall not engage in or condone any disruption of access to digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population.’ States must refrain from cutting off access to telecommunications services. “Millions of Nigerians including persons with disabilities, elderly citizens, persons living in remote areas have been unable to capture their biometrics, and obtain their NINs due to logistical challenges, administrative and bureaucratic burdens, as well as the persistent collapse of the national grid. “The rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and freedom of association, whether offline or online, promote the democratic ideal by allowing citizens to voice their concerns, challenge governmental institutions, and hold the government accountable for its actions.”

The acting Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote, has urged Nigerians to report all unethical practices encountered during registration.

Naija News reports that Coker-Odusote, in a statement on Wednesday, said that it is criminal to engage third parties or offer bribes to officials to hasten National Identification Number (NIN) registration.

She said the commission was committed to ensuring that all registration processes were carried out seamlessly and strictly with existing laws and regulations.

The NIMC boss said the commission would maintain the security and credibility of the NIN system and safeguard Nigerians’ interests, adding that the commission has zero tolerance for corruption.

She said, “We have a responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the NIN modification process and to protect the rights of every Nigerian citizen. Engaging third-party services or paying bribes compromises this process and is against the law.

“National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has zero tolerance for corruption.

“We are fully committed to upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity in our operations. All complaints should be sent to [email protected]. We encourage the public to report any unethical practices they encounter during the NIN modification process.”

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Rachel Okporu is an entertainment and lifestyle journalist with years of experience in the industry. She is a graduate of Linguistics and Communication Studies. Likes surfing the Internet and making new friends.

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