The Federal Government has suspended workers fingered in extortion at enrolment centres of the National Identity Management Commission.
Sources close to the ministry said that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, ordered the immediate suspension of the staff members, who were alleged to have been involved in extortion of applicants at the NIMC Bauchi and Kaduna state offices.
The government through the ministry ordered Nigerians to link their mobile phone lines to their National Identity Numbers, failing which their lines would be disconnected.
The government initially gave a deadline for December 30, 2020, but later granted some days of extension following a public outcry.
The NIMC said on Sunday the directive to suspend the implicated workers came on the heels of public outcry that some personnel of the commission, especially at enrolment centres in Bauchi and Kaduna, were capitalising on the rush for National Identification Number by the public to perpetuate fraudulent activities.
In a statement issued from Abuja, spokesperson of the commission, Kayode Adegoke, said the act was inimical to the policy directive of the Federal Government.
Patani said the unethical practices, if allowed to fester had the potency of derailing the SIM-NIN integration project.
He restated the point that enrolment for NIN was free of charge, adding that on no account 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,” according to the statement.
“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.
