PEBEC urges NIMC to review N1,000 NIN charge for passport applicants

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has asked the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to address concerns over the new charges introduced for the integration of and verification of passport applications.

In a statement by Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President, Ease of Doing Business/PEBEC Secretary said the introduction of a new charge of N1,000 for National Identification Number (NIN) integration and verification for each Nigerian passport applicant, with effect from April 1, 2023 should be reviewed to make government services cheaper and accessible.

The statement reads: “While the devised and agreed framework with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to significantly improve the quality of service, accuracy and speed of passport services through the verification of NIN is a welcome development in response to the incessant difficulties Nigerians have experienced in recent times in their efforts to verify their NIN during passport registration process, the additional cost for each applicant has not been well received by stakeholders.

“Further to the provisions of the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (BFA), which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 8, 2023, codifying Executive Order 001 on transparency and efficiency of public service delivery, for the purposes of the “One Government” directive, where an applicant requires service from a ministry, department or agency (MDA), the MDA is mandated to conduct the necessary verification or certification from relevant MDAs, in respect of the applicant,” Dr Oduwole explained.