By FEMI OGUNSHOLA

The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, over delay in the release of National Identity Cards from 2012 to date.

Also summoned is the Director-General, National Identity Card Management Commission, Mr Abisoye Coker-Odusote

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Muhammed Shehu (PDP-Bauchi) at the plenary in Abuja on Wednesday.

The motion is titled: “Need to Investigate the National Identity Cards released from 2012 to date.”

The house said the mission was to find out the reason behind the delay in issuing the national identity card.

The house urged the committees on Population and Anti-Corruption to report their findings back to the house within four weeks, for further legislative action.

Shehu said that in spite of the availability of resources for rapid production and electoral transparency; Nigerians have continued to encounter obstacles to update their information with National Identity Card Management Commission’s database.

He said this was due to lack of attention from the government and ineffective service delivery.

He said in spite receiving annual budgetary allocations in 2017, 2018 and 2019 to fulfill its mandate, efforts to produce and release national identity cards had been unsuccessful.

This, according to him, required urgent intervention, and attention of the Federal Government.

He said that government intervention in restructuring the commission was necessary for effective service delivery, and to revitalise the commission’s operations as well as re-affirm its goal.

This, he said, was to provide accurate data and identification documents to the citizens, thus restoring the confidence of the Nigerian populace. (NAN)

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