By Chidi Ugwu
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced the clearance of all outstanding payments owed to Front End Partners (FEPs) involved in the National Identification Number (NIN) enrollment process.
Engaged in 2021, these partners were previously paid for only one year of services. Under the leadership of Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, NIMC conducted a revalidation exercise to ensure compliance with international standards before processing payments, supported by the World Bank and ID4D.
According to a statement by Kayode Adegoke (Ph.D)Head, Corporate Communications Unit, which was made available to newsmen in Abuja, stakeholders praised NIMC’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and fostering trust within the enrollment ecosystem.
The statement reads: “The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) wishes to inform its stakeholders and the general public that it has cleared all outstanding payments owed to the Front End Partners (FEPs) for all enrolment that successfully hit the database and generated the National Identification Numbers (NINs).It should be noted, that the FEPs were contracted in 2021 by the Erstwhile administration through the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to scale up enrollment for the National Identification Number (NIN).
“However, the FEPs were only paid for one year of enrollment activities.Consequent upon the resumption of Engr Abisoye Coker-Odusote as the NIMC DG/CEO, she promised to clear the outstanding owed to the FEPs.
“As part of the process of paying the outstanding money, all the FEPs were subjected to a revalidation exercise to ensure they met internationally acceptable standards, adhered to compliance, and followed best ethical practices.After the revaluation exercise, the NIMC, with the support of the Identity for Development (ID4D) and the World Bank, began the process for the payment of the outstanding NIN enrolment money owed to the FEPs. The outstanding money was not part of the World Bank-funded NIN Enrolment project.
“The NIN Enrolment between 2021 and 2024 by the FEPs was a stop-gap measure approved by the erstwhile Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to scale up NIN enrolment pending the commencement of the World Bank/ID4D project.
“The NIMC through the ID4D and the World Bank, subsequently, paid all the outstanding money after the thorough evaluation.“ I extend our deepest appreciation to the entire leadership of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for your unwavering commitment to enhancing the welfare and operational efficiency of enrollment partners, particularly the proactive efforts in addressing and offsetting the backlog of payments for 2022 to date. This decisive action not only fosters trust and accountability but also strengthens the collaboration between NIMC and its partners, Phillip M Adekunle, MD/CEO, Knowledge Square Ltd.
“The payment of the outstanding enrollment Money by NIMC is well appreciated and commendable, MD, Real Positive Friends. Pastor Vincent Emiowele, MD Slogani, affirms, ‘ NIMC Management, most especially the DG/CEO, should be commended for the payment of all the outstanding money owed to the FEPs; it is timely and highly appreciated ‘Engr. Coker-Odusote expresses her gratitude to the FEPs and the Commission’s stakeholders for their support and dedication in populating the National Identity Database (NIDB).
“She reiterates her commitment to ensuring that the Commission continues to provide the necessary support to build a credible, reliable, and world-class identity database. The World Bank and ID4D’s valuable support to NIMC is well appreciated, she says”.
