The Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, is Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Nigerian Digital Identity for Development project.
The committee, launched by the Federal Government, will accelerate the implementation of the strategic roadmap to accelerate the development of digital identity for Nigeria.
Opening the Committee, Mr. Mustapha, its Chairman, said that digital identification is essential and critical to achieving the objective of the Government’s Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (ERGP).
He said that the Strategic Roadmap, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on September 12, 2018, “is the culmination of the enormous collective efforts and contributions of so many institutions and stakeholders, which began in 2015 when this government made a decision to forge a credible and profitable avenue for ID management. “
Therefore, to accelerate the implementation of the Strategic Roadmap, “the government considered and adopted a three-level institutional agreement that includes a Steering Committee, a Strategic Unit, an Implementation Unit located in the National Commission for Identity Management (NIMC) and with the responsibility of providing general governance and coordination, coordination and communication of the ecosystem partners and daily implementation of the project, respectively ”.
According to him: “The Project Steering Committee was established as the highest body with the responsibility of providing political, institutional and operational guidance to fulfill the vision of identification and the promise of the Strategic Roadmap.
“The members of the Steering Committee were appointed by the President. Therefore, it is its responsibility to positively steer the project to achieve the government’s objectives, consolidate efforts to date, and meet the objectives outlined in the Strategic Roadmap. “
Members, terms of reference
In addition to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, as President; The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Ms. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, is President / Alternate Member; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), member; Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, member; Minister of the Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, member.
Others are the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, member; Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, member; General Director, National Guidance Agency, Dr. GarbaAbari, Member and General Director of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz, who is a member and Secretary.
Mr. Mustapha said that the work of the Steering Committee will be guided by the following Terms of Reference approved by the President:
- me. Review the legal and regulatory framework for the development of digital identity;
- ii) Implement the strategic roadmap;
- iii) Use a fundamental identity to access the services;
- iv. Determine the location of the Ecosystem Strategic Unit; and
- v. Receive the implementation report through DG NIMC and provide the necessary guidance and approval.
Speaking more, the SGF said the Strategic Roadmap offers “a credible way for the government to develop identification at low cost, at a rapid pace and in a reliable environment.
“The task before this Committee is to ensure that the Nigerian Federal Government takes advantage of the existing ecosystem of trusted government agencies, states and private partners to carry out registration at the national level through a viable partnership strategy with an effective campaign of public awareness.
“As a nation, we have many reasons to cover, and our fundamental goal of identification can only be achieved through joint efforts and a coordinated approach.
“You would all agree with me that there is no time for this project, especially since it would have greatly reduced a number of challenges we face in identifying and locating poor and vulnerable Nigerians in the effective and efficient distribution of palliatives to cushion problems. . Effect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Of course, without wanting to list the problems associated with the absence of a fundamental identification system with which everyone is familiar, the existence of a National Identification Number (NIN) for all Nigerians would improve our provision of government services.”
While ensuring that the Federal Government is “fully committed to the early updating of this Project to enhance the effective development and efficient delivery of government services,” the SGF added that the Committee’s discussions, contributions and decisions are expected to “help to build foundations for the institutionalization of a robust and reliable identity system designed to link all functional identities, including a digitized civil registry system with the National Identification Number (NIN). “
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