The Bauchi State House of Assembly on Wednesday urged the state government to support the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in facilitating the enrolment of citizens for National Identity Number (NIN) in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government extended the synchronization of SIM cards with the NIN to Jan. 2021 and Feb. 2021 for different categories.
It approved a three – week extension for subscribers with NIN, from Dec. 30, 2020 to Jan. 19, 2021. It also extended by six weeks for subscribers without NIN, from Dec. 30, 2020 to Feb. 9, 2021.
Mr Jamilu Barade, representating Bauchi constituency, moved the motion at the plenary, saying that the NIMC was overstretched and lacked equipment to enroll citizens to meet up with the registration deadline by Federal Government.
Barade saidin order not to disenfranchise the citizens, the government should support the commission with equipment and facilities.
“I urge the state government to support the commission to establish more enrollment centres for citizens to get enrolled and synchronize their SIM card numbers,” he said.
Mr Tijjani Aliyu, member representing Azare Madangala, while seconding the motion, said the state government should collaborate with the commission to reduce the hardship being encountered by residents at registration centres.
Aliyu admonished the citizens for not availing themselves of the opportunity to enrol until when the registration of SIM came up.
The Speaker, Alhaji Abubakar Sulaiman, representating Ningi, also expressed the need for the government to support NIMC management to enhance its capacity and enroll citizens within the stipulated time.
Members of the Assembly unanimously supported the motion that the government should collaborate and support NIMC. (NAN)
