In a significant move towards modernizing Nigeria’s identity management framework, the Senate passed a bill mandating the compulsory registration of citizens. This legislation aims to overhaul the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act by repealing and reenacting it to create a more efficient, inclusive and cost-effective identity system for the country.
The bill’s passage came after a detailed report by the Committee on National Identity Card and Population, chaired by Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central.
Senator Umeh explained that the new legislation is designed to align Nigeria’s identity system with global best practices.
The Senator emphasized that this bill will pave the way for a harmonized identity system that will streamline the process of registration and issuance of identity cards, ensuring that every citizen is accounted for. A centralized database will be established to manage and store citizens’ information, providing a more efficient and accessible way to verify identities.
Once enacted, the bill will establish a commission responsible for overseeing the registration of citizens and the issuance of identity cards, addressing the growing need for an organized and standardized identification system in Nigeria. The bill now awaits consideration by the House of Representatives before it is forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
This development marks a pivotal step in addressing challenges surrounding identity management in Nigeria, with implications for everything from national security to access to government services and financial inclusion. The successful implementation of this bill could significantly improve the country’s data accuracy and ensure that Nigerians are better represented in both domestic and international databases.
