The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has discovered 406 Staff of the Commission with fake appointment, promotion, conversion and upgrading letters who have been benefiting financially from the fraud.

The irregularities was discovered during the staff audit and verification exercise to absorb and integrate about 1000 staff of the Department of National Civil Registration (DNCR) and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) that were bequeathed to NIMC.

The audit was part of the background checks regularly conducted by the NIMC on its staff, to avoid compromising the National Identity Database (NIDB). It is also part of the Commission’s continued efforts, to ensure that the National Identity Management System (NIMS) project is in a way endangered.

At the initial stage, the audit turned up some fake and unverifiable appointment/promotion/conversion letter belonging to some staff of the defunct DNCR. Against this background and for the purpose of justice, equity and fair hearing, the deflaulters were queried appropriately.

A number of persons were cleared after a rigorous process that involved a sustained background check and confirmation of tendered documents as response to the queries,  while some others were to be subjected to further investigation through a valid disciplinary committee set up to determine the veracity of their claims.

Following all of these due processes and a right to fair hearing, NIMC discovered that 406 Staff obtained fake conversion, upgrading, appointment and promotion letters.

NIMC wishes to state that it remains committed to zero tolerance policy on corruption and fraud related offenses and will not be seen to lack in its effort to maintain the integrity of the NIMS, hence the reason to do the needful with the defalulters who have been sacked and will be handed over to the relevant security agencies to deal with the criminal aspects.

No individual, union or group under any guise will be allowed to compromise or undermine the nine years of the country’s investment and efforts in achieving identity management system.

The Commission also wishes to add that the distribution and issaunce of the National e-ID Card has commenced in batches in the 36 state capitals and the FCT. All registered applicants are advised to proceed to the centre of enrolment once he/she receives an SMS from NIMC.

Abdulhamid Umar
GM, Corporate Communications