The Federal Government has suspended officials of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) allegedly involved in extortion at enrolment centres.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Pantami ordered the immediate suspension of the workers involved in extortion of applicants at the NIMC Bauchi and Kaduna state offices.
A spokesperson for the commission Kayode Adegoke said in a statement on Sunday that the suspended officials capitalised on the rush for National Identification Number (NIN) by the public to perpetrate fraudulent activities.
The minister, in the statement, restated that enrolment for NIN was free of charge, adding that on no occasion should anyone pay to obtain an enrolment form or to have their biometrics captured.
“All personnel involved in the enrolment and NIN issuance exercise must carry out their respective duties professionally, fairly and with integrity,” the statement stated.
The minister urged the public to provide snapshots, footage and other proofs if cases of extortion are seen elsewhere to help the government address the matter.
