The federal government has inaugurated a steering committee for
the Nigeria Digital Identity for Development Ecosystem Project to
fast-track the implementation of the strategic roadmap for
accelerating digital identity development for the country.
Inaugurating the committee, the Secretary to the Government of
the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the
team, said digital identification remained central and critical to
realising the objective of the government’s Economic and Recovery
Growth Plan (ERGP).
He said the strategic roadmap, approved by the Federal Executive
Council (FEC) on September 12, 2018, “is a culmination of the
enormous collective efforts and contributions of so many
institutions and stakeholders, which began in the year 2015 when
this government took a decision to forge a credible and
cost-effective pathway for identification management.”
According to him, to accelerate the implementation of the
strategic roadmap, therefore, government considered and adopted a
three-tiered institutional arrangement comprising of a Steering
Committee, a Strategic Unit, an Implementation Unit situated in the
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and with
responsibilities for providing overall governance and coordination,
ecosystem partners’ coordination and communication and day-to-day
project implementation respectively.
Mustapha further said: “The Project Steering Committee was
established as the highest body with the responsibility of
providing policy, institutional and operational guidance towards
delivering on the identification vision and promise of the
Strategic Roadmap.”
He charged members of the committee to positively steer the
project to accomplish government’s objectives, consolidate efforts
to date and deliver goals outlined in the strategic roadmap.
The SGF listed members of the steering committee, which was
approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, as follows: Secretary to
the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Chairman; Hon.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab
Shamsuna Ahmed, Alternate Chairman/Member; Hon. Minister of Justice
and Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami,
SAN, Member; Hon. Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu,
Member; Hon. Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Member;
Hon. Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Member; Hon. Minister
of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, Member;
Director-General, National Orientation Agency, Dr. Garba Abari,
Member and the Director-General of NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, who is
Member/Secretary.
The work of the steering committee shall be guided by the
following Terms of Reference as approved by President Buhari:
Review the legal and regulatory framework for digital identity
development; implement the strategic roadmap; utilise foundational
identity to access services; determine the location of the
Ecosystem Strategic Unit; and receive the report on the
implementation through the DG NIMC and provide necessary guidance
and approval.
Head, Corporate Communications at NIMC, Mr. Kayode Adegoke said
the inauguration, which was witnessed by the World Bank Team led by
the Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, also had in
attendance, the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic
Affairs, in the Office of the SGF, Mr. Andrew David Adejoh.
The federal government has inaugurated a steering committee for
the Nigeria Digital Identity for Development Ecosystem Project to
fast-track the implementation of the strategic roadmap for
accelerating digital identity development for the country.
Inaugurating the committee, the Secretary to the Government of
the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the
team, said digital identification remained central and critical to
realising the objective of the government’s Economic and Recovery
Growth Plan (ERGP).
He said the strategic roadmap, approved by the Federal Executive
Council (FEC) on September 12, 2018, “is a culmination of the
enormous collective efforts and contributions of so many
institutions and stakeholders, which began in the year 2015 when
this government took a decision to forge a credible and
cost-effective pathway for identification management.”
According to him, to accelerate the implementation of the
strategic roadmap, therefore, government considered and adopted a
three-tiered institutional arrangement comprising of a Steering
Committee, a Strategic Unit, an Implementation Unit situated in the
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and with
responsibilities for providing overall governance and coordination,
ecosystem partners’ coordination and communication and day-to-day
project implementation respectively.
Mustapha further said: “The Project Steering Committee was
established as the highest body with the responsibility of
providing policy, institutional and operational guidance towards
delivering on the identification vision and promise of the
Strategic Roadmap.”
He charged members of the committee to positively steer the
project to accomplish government’s objectives, consolidate efforts
to date and deliver goals outlined in the strategic roadmap.
The SGF listed members of the steering committee, which was
approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, as follows: Secretary to
the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Chairman; Hon.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab
Shamsuna Ahmed, Alternate Chairman/Member; Hon. Minister of Justice
and Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami,
SAN, Member; Hon. Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu,
Member; Hon. Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Member;
Hon. Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Member; Hon. Minister
of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, Member;
Director-General, National Orientation Agency, Dr. Garba Abari,
Member and the Director-General of NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, who is
Member/Secretary.
The work of the steering committee shall be guided by the
following Terms of Reference as approved by President Buhari:
Review the legal and regulatory framework for digital identity
development; implement the strategic roadmap; utilise foundational
identity to access services; determine the location of the
Ecosystem Strategic Unit; and receive the report on the
implementation through the DG NIMC and provide necessary guidance
and approval.
Head, Corporate Communications at NIMC, Mr. Kayode Adegoke said
the inauguration, which was witnessed by the World Bank Team led by
the Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, also had in
attendance, the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic
Affairs, in the Office of the SGF, Mr. Andrew David Adejoh.