NIN for SIM: Reps intervene, calls for 10-month deadline extension

The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to jettison the two weeks deadline for linking SIM cards to National Identity Number (NIN) and extend the deadline.

The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu on Wednesday during plenary which made the lawmakers to conclude that the NIN for SIM exercise requires enough timeframe to be achieved.

Elumelu in his motion explained that the House agrees with the policy of linking SIM cards to NIN, he explained that the policy is consistent with the position of the House.

He disclosed that the House even made recommendations to the NCC recently regarding the policy.

“As laudable as the policy is, Nigerians have not been properly sensitized. In this yuletide season, it could lead to stampede and exploitation.”

Opposing the amendment to extend the registration by 8weeks, Uzoma Abonta stated that 1year would be appropriate for the process.

However, the amendment for a one-year extension was rejected by the House.

Background:

The federal government had on Tuesday ordered all telecommunication service providers to ask its Recall subscribers to provide their NIN within two weeks.

Subscribers who fail to do so within the timeframe are to be blocked from using their SIM cards.

The resolution was reached at a meeting between the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy and stakeholders in the communication industry on Monday.

The resolution was disclosed by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) in a statement on Tuesday.

The major telephone networks in Nigeria are MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat.

The meeting affirmed the earlier directive to suspend the registration of new SIM cards by all operators.