Reps Queries CBN on Rejection of NIN Slip
The Speaker, House of Representative Honourable Yakubu Dogara, has mandated the Committee on Banking and Currency to interact with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other stakeholders on the need to recognize and accept the National Identification Number (NIN) as a statutory means of identification for any transaction.
This was as a result of the unanimous adoption of a motion raised by Hon. Ahmed Yerima (Bauchi,APC), titled: Need for the Central Bank of Nigeria and Other Commercial Banks to Recognize and Accept the National Identification Number (NIN) as a valid means of identification.
The Apex bank was accused of not directing the commercial banks to accept the NIN slip which contains the NIN as a legal means of identification. The NIN is a set of 11 non- intelligent numbers randomly chosen and assigned to an individual at the completion of enrolment into the National Identity Database (NIDB), once assigned to an individual, it can never be reassigned or used by another and that makes it unique in nature.
In the case of the demise of an individual, his/her NIN is retired once a death certificate is presented to the National Identity Management Commission and the individual’s death is established.
In his clarification, Honourable Mojib Alabi, stated that the NIN is the most important means of identification because it can be used to verify the identity of an individual upon presentation, and it is the tool used to harmonize all other data captured by other identity issuing agencies.
Also speaking, Hon. Abubakar Garba, stressed that discrediting the NIN slip issued by an agency saddled with the responsibility of identifying Nigerians should not be encouraged as it would be equivalent to doubting the Legal Act that established the Commission.
The speaker, directed the committee to come up with a report within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
