Workers of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have embarked on an unnoticed strike despite thousand of applicants waiting outside NIMC offices to obtain their National Identification Number (NIN).

A statement signed by the President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NIMC branch, Lucky Michael, and the Secretary of the commission, Odia Victor, revealed that the strike is as a result of workers’ exposure to COVID-19 and poor funding, thereby informing staff to stay away from their various centres.

The statement reads: “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.

“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.”

It was also revealed that “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 providing 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.”