The Ebonyi State Government has inaugurated a seven-man committee on sensitisation and monitoring of the enrollment and registration of Ebonyians and legal residents into the Data Base of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

The Kenneth Uhuo-led committee has a mandate to assist and collaborate with the NIMC to ensure that every resident of the state got registered.

The Principal Secretary (PS) to the Governor, Chief Clement Nweke, inaugurated the committee at the Government House, Abakaliki, on Friday. He explained that the committee became necessary following recent revelation by the NIMC that only five per cent of Ebonyi residents had registered since 2012 when the exercise commenced.

Nweke added that going by the five percent figure given by the commission, Ebonyi is so far the least among the 36 states of the federation.

This, according to the PS, showed that the state had the lowest apathy in identifying with the exercise.

He attributed the development to lack of sensitisation and collaboration between the Commission and the government.

The PS charged the committee to improve on the present statistics by ensuring effective senstisation and monitoring of the registration across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state. He also directed that LGAs where the NIMC had no office should make it available to them immediately.

Chief Nweke, on behalf of Governor David Umahi, donated 13 laptops to NIMC to enhance the registration. He stated that the government could not afford to allow Ebonyi residents lose the benefits attached to the national identity card registration.

Dr. Felix Amah, Coordinator of NIMC in the state who was elated by the donation of the laptops, assured that they would double their efforts in ensuring that everyone was registered in the state.

“I thank his Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State for his recognition and support so far to the NIMC project in the state. I am aware that his government has been so much concerned in ensuring that her citizens are not left behind when it comes to national benefits from the FG,” he said.

Amah added that the Commission commenced with the registration of those that had reached 16 years and above but had flagged off the registration of 16 years and below as well as amputees.

Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Uhuo, assured that they would do everything within their limits to ensure that everyone got registered in the state.

Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Justice Ogbonna, and the Chairman of Coordinators of Forum, Hon. Paul Nwogha, who are members of the committee, in their separate remarks assured that the local governments would create conducive environment for the NIMC to operate.

•Photo shows Governor Umahi.

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