NIMC staff down tool, protests non- provision of PPE over Covid-19

By Idu Jude

Amidst the controversy and difficulties being encountered by Nigerians trying to comply with Federal Government’s order of being enrolled in National Identity programme,  staff of the commission Thursday grounded the process,  as they went on strike.

Their demands include, an improved salary structure as a revenue generating agency, provision of personal protective equipment to its members exposed to the public as the registration continues, payment of leave allowances and others.

Recall that the Federal Government’s order to communicate companies on the registration of sim cards, has induced a huge crowd of people seeking to get registered at various centers at National o states of the Federation.

This Nigeria in a visit to the National Identity management commission NIMC headquarters situated at wuse zone 5 Abuja, witnessed chaotic situation as staff of the organization embarked on peaceful demonstration to press home several demands several years ago.

Speaking  with some of the staff of the commission who spoke in anonymity, one of them who is a level 13 staff, revealed a disturbing scenario with regards to commissions non compliance towards covid 19 pandemic as it registers huge multitude of people.

According to our reliable source, management of the commission has failed to provide personal protective equipment for staff registering the public to meet with the demands of the Federal government. “we are not just protesting over one thing. There are several issues here. One is that the management has failed to buy some protection against covid 19, in compliance with the National center for disease control NCDC. What we are seeing here is appalling. Sometimes last month, they brought some PPE in compliance to covid 19 pandemic but a week later we stopped seeing them and since then our staff on duty have stopped wearing protective clothing while attending to a huge number of the public seeking registration. We have been asking questions but till this moment the management has not addressed that matter. And we are afraid that the people exposed to this hazard are mostly junior staffs”

Our source further enumerated that items needed includes hands gloves, hand sanitizers, facemasks, wash hands buckets as well as payment of hazard allowances.

“We are also protesting against none salary increase, none payment of years of leave allowances, workshop allowances as we as several others”

Also making his voice heard, the leader of the senior civil servant association, NIMC unit, comrade Asekokhai  Lucky Misdeal and Secretary of the Unit Odia Victor jointly said, “ subsequent upon just concluded congress of the above mentioned association,  that held 6^th of January, 2021. The unit executive hereby directs all members of grade level 12 and below in Head Office and all state offices to report to their respective duty posts tomorrow(today) 7^th January, 2021 and do nothing” a communiqué signed by Michael and victor stated.

The association also ordered all members across states and local governments to stay away from those centers as the association task force and implementation committee will be on ground to ensure compliance.

Many Nigerians have been complaining about the amount of time it takes to attend to people who spend hours in a queue to register.

Ibrahim Idris , was one of seeking registration, he fears that even those seeking registration amidst the wave of covid 19 pandemic are not safe since the commission has failed to comply with the NCDC directives. “Well as you can see and despite the wave of covid 19, the process is so cumbersome. The process is not quick and looking at the crowd, there is the danger and the possibility of people contacting the dreaded disease covid 19. I think the authority should be able to make things work.

This Nigeria however, sought to hear from the leadership of the commission to at least ascertain the government side of the story, but met a stumbling block as no staff was willing to speak on behalf of Director General Eng. Aliyu Aziz who was conspicuously absent.