The Federal Government has ordered the suspension of workers caught in extorting applicants at enrolment centres of the National Identity Management Commission.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, ordered the immediate suspension of the staff members allegedly involved in the extortion of applicants at the NIMC Bauchi and Kaduna state offices.
The NIMC said the order came as a result of the public outcry that some workers of the commission, especially workers at enrolment centres in Bauchi and Kaduna were tasking the public to pay certain amount before they could be enrolled and given the National Identification Number.
In a statement released by the commission in Abuja, Mr. Kayode Adegoke said such act was inimical to the directive of the Federal Government, which required mobile network subscribers to update their Subscriber Identification Module registration with a valid NIN.
According to the statement released, Pantami emphasised his zero tolerance on extortion, bribery and corruption.
He said that such unethical practices if allowed to fester have the potency of derailing the SIM-NIN integration project.
The minister also noted that “the enrolment for National Identification Number (NIN) is free of charge; therefore, on no account should anyone pay to obtain an enrolment form or to have their biometrics captured.
“All personnel involved in the enrolment and NIN issuance exercise must carry out their respective duties professionally, fairly and with integrity.”
He urged the general public to “assist us in putting our commitments into action by sending proof of any nefarious activity within and around our enrolment centres.”