The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume has inaugurated the newly constituted Steering Committee for the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) World Bank Project.
The Steering Committee which has the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as Chairman and the Director-General of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote as Secretary.
Members of the committee are the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijjani.
In his inaugural speech, the SGF charged the Steering Committee to ensure that every Nigerian is enrolled on the digital identification system which will facilitate access to services, improve service delivery and bolster Nigeria’s digital economy.
The SGF, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, expressed the readiness of the federal government to expedite the implementation of the strategic roadmap for the project through the establishment of a three-tiered institutional framework consisting of a Steering Committee, Strategic Unit, and an Implementation Unit within the National Identity Management Commission.
He said these institutional frameworks were tasked with the overall governance, coordination, and communication with ecosystem partners, and day-to-day project implementation.
The SGF underscored the high premium the Tinubu-led administration has placed on the digital identity with the recent reinforcement of the extant approval for the mandatory use of National Identification Number (NIN) for digital services and the issuance of service-wide circular from OSGF to this effect.
Also speaking, the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission and the Secretary of the Steering Committee for the Nigeria Digital Identification Development, Mr Abisoye Coker-Odusote assured that the establishment of the Steering Committee would herald a new era of collaboration, innovation, and progress in the collective efforts to harness the power of digital technology for socio-economic development, empowering individuals, and fostering inclusive growth.
She expressed appreciation for the readiness of the Steering Committee to
bring their wealth of expertise, insights, and dedication to bear in the execution of their mandates.
She said their collective wisdom and guidance will be instrumental in shaping the strategic direction, policies and frameworks necessary to ensure the successful implementation of this transformative project.
