
By Fatima Saka
The Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population has expressed strong displeasure over the inadequate funding of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
During a budget review session on Tuesday in Abuja, committee members criticized the meager allocation to the agency, which operates offices in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The committee noted that despite NIMC’s nationwide presence and critical role in identity management, it was allocated only ₦312 million for capital expenditure. Even more concerning, only ₦98 million of this amount has been accessible to the agency.
Committee chairman, Senator Ahmed Abdul Ningi, decried the insufficient funding, emphasizing the agency’s responsibility to enroll Nigerians in the diaspora.
“This is an agency expected to register Nigerians abroad. I don’t know how much they will need to go to London, Japan, the U.S., the Netherlands, and other European countries,” he said.
Senator Ningi also criticized the Ministry of Finance for failing to recognize NIMC’s strategic importance.
“I am very sure those who prepared this budget, including the Minister of Finance, do not understand the critical role of this agency. No wonder when I walked into this office and saw the personnel, their faces looked gloomy. That, for me, confirms my fears,” he added.
In response to senators’ concerns, NIMC Director-General/Chief Executive Officer Bisoye Coker-Odusote revealed that the agency had submitted reports and memos to relevant authorities regarding its funding challenges, particularly during budgetary deliberations.
“We have repeatedly raised concerns about the agency’s financial struggles. Unfortunately, up to this moment, nothing has been done,” she stated.
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The committee further criticized the budget office for failing to prioritize NIMC in its allocations, warning of the security risks posed by underfunding such a vital agency.
“This has implications for national security. Yet, someone in the budget office, who probably knows little about this agency, decided to allocate just ₦312 million,” a committee member remarked.
The committee adjourned with a resolution to summon the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning for further discussions on the matter.