NIMC Sacks 406 Staff With Fake Appointment & Promotion Letters

The general manager, corporate communications of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abdulhamid Umar in a statement yesterday said it has sacked 406 staff found with fake appointment, promotion, conversion and upgrading letters inherited from the defunct Department of National Civil Registration (DNCR) and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF). He said the irregularities were discovered during a staff audit and verification exercise to absorb and integrate about 1000 staff bequeathed to NIMC.

“At the initial stage, the audit turned up some fake and unverifiable appointment/promotion/conversion letters belonging to some staff of the defunct DNCR. Against this background and for the purpose of justice, equity and fair hearing, the defaulters were queried appropriately. 

“A number of persons were cleared after a rigorous process that involved a sustained background check and confirmation of tendered documents as response to the queries, while some others were to be subjected to further investigation through a valid disciplinary committee set up to determine the veracity of their claim,” he said.

Umar said following all of these due processes and a right to fair hearing, NIMC discovered that 406 staff obtained fake conversion, upgrading, and appointment and promotion letters, noting that NIMC remains committed to zero tolerance policy on corruption and fraud related offenses and will not be seen to lack in its effort to maintain the integrity of the NIMS.

The NIMC spokesman noted that the sacked staff will be handed over to the relevant security agencies to deal with the criminal aspects. “No individual, union or group under any guise will be allowed to compromise or undermine the nine years of the country’s investment and efforts in achieving identity management system.

“The Commission also wishes to add that the distribution and issuance of the National e-ID Card has commenced in batches in the 36 state capitals and the FCT. All registered applicants are advised to proceed to the centre of enrolment once he/she receives an SMS from NIMC,” he added.