The National Communication Commission (NCC) has been asked to set six months target for linking National Identification Number (NIN) with subscribers’ sim cards in the country.
The Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders ‘Foundation (HURIDE) made the request in a statement at Abuja yesterday. The rights group said that the extension to January 2021 from the initial two weeks in December 2020 is still not enough.
In the statement signed by the Executive Director of HURIDE, Dede Uzor A Uzor, the group argued that forcing the people to get NIN in their handset will be counter-productive, saying that it would will be too stressful for the people and impact negatively on the economy.
The group said given the inherent failure of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) over time to provide Nigerians with National Identity cards which automatically would carry NIN, it will not be feasible for every subscriber to comply before the deadline.
The group called for immediate overhaul of NIMC management for efficiency.
“The organisation is corrupt and inept. When these category of Staff are flushed out, then others should be made to issue National Identity card to Nigerians within the next six months.
“We as human rights body appreciates the importance of the project in curbing fraud as well as putting sanity in the system but must done with human face and in line with democratic principles. We are not in military regime”, the group said.
HURIDE however warned that the NIN project by NCC should not in anyway be used to deny Nigerians the legitimate access to interact with fellow citizens as it would encroach on their fundamental rights.