The Senate has received multiple petitions against the Director General and CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, for allegedly refusing to pay contractors engaged as enrolment vendors under the World Bank-supported Front-End Partners (FEP) programme. The FEP initiative aims to extend enrolment services across Nigeria, focusing on specific geographic areas.
According to a petition submitted to the Senate, contractors claim they are owed for a total of 1,469,154 National Identification Number (NIN) enrolments, amounting to ₦1,469,154 at ₦1.00 per enrolment. In naira terms, the amount is estimated at ₦2,424,104,100.00, calculated at an exchange rate of ₦1,650 per dollar.
The petition, addressed to the Senate Committee Chairman on National Identity and National Population, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), alleges that numerous companies were invited to express interest in becoming enrolment vendors for NIMC under the World Bank-sponsored programme. The World Bank reportedly proposed a fee equivalent to ₦1.00 per enrolment.
The Senate has summoned NIMC CEO Coker-Odusote to appear next week to address the petitions. The complaints cite her alleged unilateral management of NIMC affairs, which lacks an overseeing board, leading to a “sole administrator” posture in her operations.
In an interview with Vanguard, Senator Ningi confirmed, “We have received several petitions against the Director General of NIMC, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote. Upon resumption next week, we will invite her and the petitioners to address the issues raised.”
The CEO of File Solutions, Senator Ayodele Arise, who filed the petition, emphasized the importance of a robust national database for national development and security.
According to Arise, companies that met the requirements for diaspora enrolment were also licensed to operate abroad. Previously, NIMC staff handled enrolments in government offices, with some allegations of extortion leading to the introduction of FEP to mitigate corruption and improve enrolment efficiency.
Arise explained that File Solutions Ltd. expanded from managing IDP camps to over 1,000 enrolment centers, including agents who borrowed funds to acquire the necessary equipment. These contractors faced initial technical challenges with Android devices, but they quickly adapted, integrating the devices for both SIM and NIN registrations.
The agreement mandated that FEPs enrol Nigerians free of charge, with NIMC compensating them at ₦1.00 per enrolment. However, as operations commenced, the cost of providing the service exceeded ₦350 per enrolment due to additional expenses like printing paper and toner.
The petition, addressed to Senator Ningi’s committee, urges that contractors owed since January 2022 be paid the ₦1.00 per enrolment fee. The petitioner also called on the Senate to ensure that all recipients of government palliatives have a National Identity Number, which would boost enrolment.
Additionally, the petition requests the immediate release of World Bank funds designated for infrastructure development to modernize NIMC’s infrastructure, allowing for automation that minimizes human intervention and reduces corrupt practices.
