The Independent National Identification Number (NIN) agents in the South-West geopolitical zone has protested against the alleged non-payment of two-year commission and the revocation of their operational licenses by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
The group’s spokesperson, Mr. Taiwo Odebunmi who addressed newsmen in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital called on President Bola Tinubu-led administration to urgently address the matter.
Odebunmi, who represented over 120 affected agents, highlighted the severe financial hardship the agents have endured due to the withheld commissions and invalidated licenses.
He explained that the acquisition of enrollment devices and licenses was funded through the AGSMEIS loan scheme provided by NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (MFB).
“Each agent was granted a loan of N4,109,485.72 under an agreement that the monthly commissions paid by NIMC would be deposited into our NIRSAL MFB repayment accounts to offset the loan.
“However, after the first two months of payment by NIMC from April to May 2021, the payment of the Commission stopped and throughout 2021, from June to December 2021, we were not paid a dime.
“This caused a lot of discomfort and loss for our members. This backlog was, however, paid in March 2022 and deductions were made in repayment of the loan based on this backlog when the moratorium ended in February 2022,” Odebunmi said.
Since then, he said NIMC is owing its members commissions on enrollments done. This nonpayment of commission has caused a lot of issues for us because NIRSAL MFB has since commenced the GSI Recovery process on agents through the assistance of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“Also, in 2023, NIMC withdrew our licences through a bogus revalidation exercise. These licences were paid for with this loan and were withdrawn without regard to the fact our contract is for a 5 year period.
“We are now appealing for the swift intervention of the federal government and its relevant agencies in ensuring the payment of the outstanding commission of $1 per enrollment and revalidation of our operation licence.”
