The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), by the Act setting it up, NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, has the mandate to establish, own, operate, maintain and manage the National Identity Database in Nigeria, register persons covered by the Act, assign a Unique National Identification Number (NIN) and issue General Multi-Purpose Cards (GMPC) to those who are citizens of Nigeria as well as others legally residing within the country.
Discharging this responsibility on the part of NIMC has not been altogether easy. To register the individual is a task both for the commission and the citizens who have to wait unusually long time to be captured. Even more harrowing is the long wait before the card itself is issued after registration. It needs to be noted that the identity card, by law, has a life span of five years after which the holder is expected to renew it at a cost of N5000. For some who are lucky to be issued the card at all, the delay would have eaten deep into the life span that the holder has barely no time to use it before it expires.
It is for this reason that there have been calls by a cross section of Nigerians urging the commission to make the card permanent or at least extend its span by a substantial number of years so as to give the holder time to use it before contemplating a renewal.
For instance, in a situation where holder’s status changes due to marriage or other circumstances, the e-ID Card can then be modified and re-issued. If the e-ID Card gets lost, damaged or stolen, it would be reasonable to charge a fee for re-issuance. But generally, it is most suited to be a permanent e-ID Card as is the case in other developed countries with similar instruments of identification. Or, for that matter, the e-ID should be made to function like Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and the National Identification Number (NIN) used in banks that identifies one for life.
In special cases that affect senior citizens aged 70 and above, the process of re-issuance may become too burdensome indeed. As is presently the case with the ordinary Nigerian, there’s still a whole lot that is wrong with the issuance of the e-ID Cards as several Nigerians are yet to collect their cards years after registration. This serves only to compound the woes of renewal.
While the commission is pondering the viability of making the e-ID permanent, it is imperative, in our view, that we commend the federal government for easing the process of identification by allowing Nigerians to use their NIN numbers when required, instead of the e-ID Card itself.
We are aware that the commission must have its own challenges that have impeded on the effectiveness and efficient implementation of the ID policy. It is from this perspective that we invite the management of NIMC to take the public into confidence so as to bring under control the expectations that are putting the commission under undue pressure.
We recognise the advantages inherent in having a NIMC card as well as a NIN number as it certifies the credibility of the nationality of the holder. Also, such combination helps with the identification process in keeping with the national policy direction which is to establish, harmonise and seamlessly integrate National Identity Management System (NIMS) anchored on the unique NIN, and which connects the various institutional databases under a single platform.
It must be noted that the NIMS, which includes a National Identity Database (NID) that supports a system for uniquely authenticating and verifying the identity of every individual and legal resident in Nigeria, is designed to guarantee identity only – an important denominator in the service and functions of all institutions of government and the private sector. The NIMS also provides for the issuance of a Smart Card.
Perhaps it will be pertinent to recall how the ID policy operates in other climes. In the United Kingdom, for instance, a National Insurance Number is given to make one’s tax and national insurance contributions. It is recorded with the holder’s name and is a means of identification which is for life and does not change or expire. Also, in the United States of America, a Social Identity Number is also meant for identification and issued by the Social Security Administration. This card is also for life and does not change or expire.
Therefore, we are of the opinion that the federal government should review the re-issuance policy of the NIMC e-ID Cards, and just like other countries, encourage the use of the NIN and make the e-ID Card permanent. If we can have Permanent Voters Card, why not permanent NIMC e-ID Card?
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