- Restates commitment to Tinubu’s eight point agenda
A pre-enrolment platform to debottleneck the process of obtaining the National Identity Number (NIN) would soon be unveiled, the Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote, assured yesterday.
Speaking in the sideline of 2024 Management Retreat organized by the Commission at Eko Hotel and Suites, she said accurate data is key to the achievement of President Bola Tinubu’s Eight Point Agenda, adding he is very, very keen on ensuring that he bridged that gap between government and the citizens and to ensuring that all the citizens benefit from his tenure as president.
She said the pre-enrollment platform will allow people willing to obtain NIN to do it online by inputting their information and walk in to do their biometric capturing at the centers near to them, stressing that such a development will erase allegations of people being extorted at the point of registration.
“So just to let you know that we have an online modification platform portal going on very soon. I believe that we’re testing it at the moment internally. It’s a production right now. It’s called a production environment through the quality assurance and quality control unit. Once that is ready, it will definitely go live in another week.
“The reason why we have set this portal up is to ensure that you’re able to go online and do your modification yourself. So it’s called a self-service locally for you to be able to do what you need to do. “So you don’t have to go to the NIMC offices or go anywhere. And we’re very keen on ensuring that there’s a pre-enrollment service that will also come up very soon. So all you do is enroll, pre-enroll online, input all your information, and then you just walk in to do your biometric capturing at the centers.
So give or take that pre-enrollment should be ready before the end of March,” Coker-Odusote said.
“Regarding Mr. President’s eight-point agenda, I’m sure that you all are aware of what NIMC does, the issuance of the NIN to all the citizens in this country. But most importantly is to ensure that we bridge that gap between the government and the people by ensuring that we provide access to services through the issuance of the NIN.
“So if you’re going to pay out any form of, let’s say for example, palliatives to citizens, it doesn’t matter what it is, whether it’s energy subsidy, whether it’s to the poorest of the poor, whether it’s to the farmers in terms of giving them some supplies or subsidy for crops or fertilizers, it doesn’t really matter what it is. You must be able to identify who you’re going to be paying these funds to.
“And it’s also very important because using the NIN will help you curb fraud, identity fraud, especially when it comes to, you know, ghost payments. We’ll be able to track from end-to-end who we’re making payments to and ensuring that the right beneficiaries receive these payments.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very, very keen on ensuring that it bridges that gap between government and its citizens and to ensuring that all the citizens benefit from his tenure as president.
She said 104 million have been registered, which is very good progress that NIMC has made, adding that “we have people registering every single day across the country and also from the diaspora. So we’re trying to make sure things are done from the comfort of your own with ease to ensure that we remove the bottlenecks of long queues in the event of if there’s any extortion to eliminate all of that. If you’re able to do it yourself at home, why do you have to come in? So we need to ensure that it’s a seamless process for you to be able to get your NIN.”
Speaking on the retreat, the DG said: “This is the first management retreat NIMC has ever had and for me, one of my key areas for my own personal mandate is to ensure proper staff welfare, and to ensure that I identify the gaps and bridge those gaps in terms of the staff’s ability to perform on the job, and to ensure I provide them with the necessary tools to be able to perform very well in the work environment.
What is the possibility of achieving this five-point agenda within a speculative timeline, she said the good news is that the Commission, under her leadership, has started taking steps.
“Okay, so the good news is that we’ve actually started taking steps to achieving all the five-point agendas simultaneously. So we have integrated with a lot of MDAs, we’ve integrated with NYSC, FRSC, we’re working on the tax, FIRS at the moment, and so on and so forth. We’re also working on the credit facility, which is being chaired by the Ministry of Trade and Investment and also co-chaired by the Ministry of Digital Economy.
“We’re trying to see how we can ensure that the NIN is used as the foundation for identity. So whatever verifications you need to do regarding data or authentication of the data, we need to ensure that you use the name to validate this. So what NIMC basically does is, how do you identify a person?
“So whatever you want to even do, even in your own daily life. You want to pay money to somebody, you must be able to know the identity of who you are paying, correct? So that’s basically what our objective is, to ensure that we’re able to do this and ensure that in the process of doing this, your data is safe, ensure that the data is protected. So thank you very much for your time. Let me get on with my retreat,” she said.
Earlier in her opening speech, she said the purpose is clear: to enhance our leadership capabilities, stressing that as steward of Nigeria’s national identity, tasked with significant responsibility of ensuring the integrity of our data as the foundational source of truth.
“Our work impacts millions of lives, shaping the very fabric of our nation and as a result of this herculean responsibility, we are here to reiterate our commitment to being the example we hope for Nigeria. Bearing this in mind, it’s imperative that we equip ourselves with the tools necessary to lead effectively. “Leadership involves critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, strategic planning, mentoring and coaching and many other skills.
“Critical thinking lies at the heart of effective leadership. It compels us to question assumptions, explore alternatives and make informed decisions. In a rapidly changing landscape, our ability to analyze complex situations and devise innovative solutions will be our compass.
“Problem-solving is not merely about finding answers, it is about asking the right questions. As we grapple with challenges, let us remember that every Obstacle is an opportunity in disguise. Together, we shall unravel complexities and pave the way for progress.
“Decision-making, is often a daunting task that requires courage and discernment. Our choices ripple through the lives of our fellow citizens. Let us deliberate with wisdom, considering both short-term gains and long term impacts. Strategic planning is our road map to success. As we envision the future, let us align our goals allocate resources judiciously and chart a course that leads us toward a resilient, inclusive and digitally empowered Nigeria.
“Mentoring and coaching are acts of generosity. Let us nurture talent, empower our colleagues and foster a culture of continuous learning. Each interaction is an opportunity to inspire, guide, and elevate those around us,” she said.
She urged participants to take advantage of the tranquil setting, away from the hustle of daily routines, to absorb knowledge, share experiences and forge lasting connections. “As the sun sets on this retreat, may it rise to a new era of leadership-one that transcends titles and embraces purpose,” she said.
