More Frustration for Nigerians as Identity Card Workers Embark on Strike Over Funding, Exposure to Covid-19

Thousands of citizens have been left stranded and frustrated outside offices of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as staff of the commission embarked on industrial action.

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“Consequent upon the just concluded congress of the above-mentioned association that took place on January 6, 2020, the unit executive directs all members of grade level 12 and below in the head office and state offices to report to their respective duty posts tomorrow January 7, 2020, and do nothing,” the notice which was seen by ARISE News stated.

The notice which was signed by Chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NIMC branch, Asekokhai Michael, and its Secretary, Odia Victor also stated that “all members at the local government offices and special centres are advised to stay away from their various centres as task force and implementation committees would be on parade to ensure total compliance to the directive.”

In December, the Nigerian Communications Commission directed all telecommunication firms to disconnect the SIM cards of all persons who have not integrated their National Identity Numbers with their phone lines by the end of January.

Data available shows that more than 95 million Nigerians are yet to integrate their National Identification Numbers and has brought about huge crowds to gather at the offices of NIMC nationwide in breach of the COVID-19 protocol.

A communiqué issued at the end of the congress meeting of the ACCSN, NIMC branch, stated that the strike had become necessary due to the exposure of staff to COVID-19 risks, lack of personal protective equipment, irregularities in promotion and poor funding.

By Abel Ejikeme

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