…As FG okays mobile app to secure NIN slip
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has emphasized that the ongoing enrollment for the National Identification Number (NIN) is free of charge across the country.
In a tweet on Thursday, NIMC, however, warned that “those who extort applicants risk a seven-year jail term if found guilty of the offence.”
It cited Sections 14, 20 and 21 of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Act and Sections 10 and 12 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
NIMC said the offence is punishable in accordance with the extant laws.
The commission also urged Nigerians to report such cases of extortion for diligent prosecution to serve as a deterrent.
“The punishment for extortion if convicted is seven years of imprisonment as stipulated in Sections 14, 20 and 21 of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Act and Sections 10 and 12 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
“Report extortion via actu@nimc.gov.ng or call 08157691214 or 08157691071,” the National Identity Management Commission said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, has approved the development and release of an improved NIN slip and a mobile application that will help in securing NIN.
Technical Assistant, Information Technology to the ministry, Dr Femi Adeluyi, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.
Adeluyi said this development was part of the Federal Government’s Policy to improve the process of obtaining NIN and linking it to Subscribers Identification Module, SIM, and also aligning with the national digital economy policy for a digital Nigeria.
He said that the mobile application has been sent to the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, and the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, for implementation.
“The N20 and N40 fees for NIN verification by individuals and mobile network operators, respectively, were also waived.
“These efforts are aimed at supporting the policy to link subscribers’ NIN to their SIM, which was approved by the government earlier in the year and communicated to the NCC on Feb. 4, 2020.
“The highly anticipated Web Service (MWS) application called the NIMC mobile app and the improved NIN slip are now available for public use,” the minister’s aide said.
Adeluyi explained that the application provided a secure channel for all Nigerians and legal residents to easily verify and authenticate their identities on-the-go using smartphones, adding that it also enables them to link the NIN to their phone numbers.
He also said that the application offered a built-in harmonisation process that allowed its use across other government services including the NCC, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Federal Road Safety Commission and National Health Insurance Scheme, among others.
According to him, the new improved NIN slip is pocket friendly and an easy to verify version.
“It can be accessed via a self-service portal where people who already have been issued the NIN can log in, download a PDF of the document in color, if preferred, print and laminate as desired.
“The current NIN slip will remain valid and will be gradually phased-out,” he said.
He said that the application was already available on the Google Play store for Android users and App Store for IOS users.
The minister’s aide said that details on how to download and install the application and download the improved NIN slip were available on the websites and social media platforms of the Ministry and NIMC.
He said that users could also download the improved NIN Slip at https://dashboard.nimc.gov.ng.
He said that the minister had directed NIMC to respond to enquiries and also provide multimedia guides to make it easy for users to obtain their improved NIN slips and install the application.
He said the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy remained committed to creating an enabling environment for all Nigerians and legal residents to obtain their digital identity number.