The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill that makes citizen’s registration mandatory, aiming to reform the country’s identity management system.
The bill proposes to repeal and re-enact the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act to establish a unified and cost-effective identity system that follows global standards.
Senator Victor Umeh, who chairs the Committee on National Identity Card and Population, explained that the bill is designed to improve data accuracy, promote inclusion, and address gaps in Nigeria’s identity database.
Once signed into law, the bill will create a centralized database and a commission to handle citizen registration and issue identity cards.
The bill now awaits approval from the House of Representatives before being sent to the President for final assent.
News Edited by Success Maduagwu Nmesoma