Nigerians have reacted strongly to an order by the Federal Government for bank account holders to submit self-certification forms. It made the announcement on its verified Twitter handle.
The tweet reads: “Information: This is to notify the general public that all account holders in financial institutions (Banks, Insurance, companies, etc) are required to obtain, complete, and submit self-certification forms to their respective financial institutions.
“Persons holding accounts in different financial institutions are required to complete & submit the form to each one of the institutions. The forms are required by the relevant financial institutions to carry out due diligence procedures inline with the income tax regulations 2019.”
Nigerians on social media were particularly taken aback by the fact that the government is still asking for submission of self-certification forms even after so many registrations that have been done in the past including Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identity Card, Driver’s License, Voter’s card, and International passports.
Beyond asking Nigerians to submit the self-certification forms, the process for obtaining and submitting the forms is always punishing and it is riddled with corruption especially if it is a government registration.
What is stopping the harmonization of Nigeria’s National Identity?
There is a multiplicity of identity database in Nigeria and there is an immediate need to harmonize them.
Note that since the registration drive started, the organisations listed below have over the years collected biometric and personal data at different times from Nigerians:
- Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC): Mobile SIM registration
- Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN): Bank Verification Number (BVN)
- Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): Permanent voterâs card
- National Population Commission (NPopC): Birth and death certificates
- Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC): Driverâs license
- National ID card/NIN: NIMC
- International Passport: Immigration
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) which has the responsibility to “create, operate and manage the National Identity Database (NID)” is yet to take any known steps toward establishing one.
In fact, President Buhari appointed Dr. Joe Abah into the Steering Committee to drive digital identification, chaired by the SGF.
The task of the Committee according to Abah “is to give all Nigerians a digital identity within 5 years and also to integrate other data that govt holds, like BVN, drivers licence & passports, with NIMCâs NIN.”
The clear truth is that the groundwork for establishing a National Identity Database has been laid. However, it is difficult to place a finger on the reason why there is a sinister delay. Is it a lack of funds, manpower, commitment, corruption, and technology?
Whatever the case may be, the absence of a National Identity Database simply means the government will continue to spend ‘billions’ to identify Nigerians while instituting and establishing a disjointed, disorganised, and scattered national identity.
