NIN registration suffers setback as NIMC workers commence strike over funding, exposure to COVID-19

Thousands of applicants have been locked outside of the offices of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

This was consequent upon a strike embarked upon by NIMC staff members.

According to reports doing the round on different media platforms, the notice of strike was signed by the President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NIMC branch, Lucky Michael, and its Secretary, Odia Victor.

The notice read in part: “Consequent upon the just concluded congress of the above mentioned association that took place on January 6, 2020, the unit executive directs all members of grade level 12 and below in the head office and state offices to report to their respective duty posts tomorrow January 7, 2020 and do nothing.

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“All members at the local government offices and special centres are advised to stay away from their various centres as task force and implementation committees would be on parade to ensure total compliance to the directive.”

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had last month directed all telecoms firms to disconnect the SIM cards of all persons who have yet to sync their National Identity Numbers with their phone numbers by January 19 for those with NIN.

Those without NINs have until to February to do register to get their number and do the linkage to their SIMs.

There are reports that well over 100 million Nigerians have yet to do so- to get their NINs and to link them with their SIMs.

In a bid to beat the deadline for the NIN-SIM linkage, crowds who before now had not got their NINs, have converged on NIMC offices countrywide to register for it.

This has resulted in large gatherings that are in flagrant breach of the COVID-19 safety protocols and guidelines.

The development has now exposed NIMC staff members to COVID-19 risks.

A communiqué issued at the end of the congress meeting of the ACCSN, NIMC branch, specifically addressed these concerns.

According to it, the strike had become necessary due to the exposure of staff to COVID-19 risks and lack of personal protective equipment.

The communique added irregularities in promotion and poor funding, in addition to making a demand on the government to pay NIMC staff members overtime and enough work tools.

The congress further noted: “Staff members were infected with COVID-19 and adequate measures have not been taken to curtail the spread. The meeting resolved that safety of staff should be prioritised.

” Furthermore the office environment should be fumigated immediately.

“The congress agreed that the NIMC staff salary structure approved by the Federal Government vide Presidential assent be implemented in the personnel appropriation of the 2021 annual budget effective January 2021.

“That the lopsided and irregular promotion done in 2017 and 2020 be reviewed, regularised and gazetted in accordance with public service rules.”