The governing board of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has appealed to the Federal Government to implement an enhanced salary structure for staff of the commission.
The acting chairman of the board, Bello Gwandu made the appeal when he led other members on a courtesy visit on the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami in Abuja.
He said there was need for improved salary structure for staff of the commission in line with what obtains in other government agencies in the same Information Technology (IT) sector, adding the issue of staff welfare had been brought to the front-burner following the relentless drive to see a paradigm shift to their general working conditions.
Gwandu also tasked government to make funds available to meet the infrastructural needs of the commission to effectively execute its mandate.
He expressed belief that the minister would wade into the challenges confronting the commission, saying as a technocrat, he (minister) understands the importance of digital identification in Nigeria.
“Let me say again for the purpose of emphasis, that as a commission, we never exuded such overwhelming relevance and have not been this connected to the Nigerian people like we have since you took over as our supervisory minister,” he stated.
In his response, the minister expressed appreciation for the courtesy visit even as he said the ministry would continue to do its best to ensure the success of the commission.
On the improved salary structure, he said the ministry was already working on the new salary scale approved by the Salaries and Wages Commission, assuring the review would be concluded in the coming weeks.
“I have furnished President Muhammadu Buhari with all the challenges faced by NIMC because the president said we must get National Identity Number (NIN) right as we cannot continue to estimate our population and for national planning. We will make sure the agency delivers on its mandate. We need to do more for NIMC,” he added.
