By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Abuja

Staff and management of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will enjoy jumbo salary package soon as the federal government Thursday approved new salary scale with 200 per cent increase for the workers.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, while making a presentation of the Approved NIMC Staff Condition of Service and new Salary Scale, in Abuja via virtual said: “We now have a new Condition of Service and Salary Scale approved byPresident Muhammadu Buhar for the National Identity Management Commission. This new Condition of Service and Salary Scale increases with over 200% the total NIMC personnel cost, a significant departure from what is currently obtainable.”

He said that the new salary scale is critical to ensure diligence, security, and dedication of the Staff of NIMC for the seamless operation of the National Identity Management System (NIMS) and its integrity by having a satisfied workforce.

The minister while charging the staff and management of the commission to shun all kinds of corrupt practices, urged all the staff to work harder, ensure diligence, security consciousness and dedication for the seamless operation and integrity of the National Identity Management System (NIMS).

Pantami also said he expects the approved Condition of Service and the Salary Scale would serve as a veritable tool to re-engineer the operations, structure, and enhance NIMC’s overall functionality, productivity, and performance in line with the Nigeria Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).

He said he took up the challenge of getting an improved pay package for NIMC staff, having compared the NIMC Personnel Policy with what is obtainable in other parastatals
under the Communications and Digital Economy Ministry. He found out that “NIMC has the poorest Staff remuneration scheme with a highly sensitive mandate to deliver. Thus, the staff remuneration existing then was not commensurate to the work delivery expected from the Commission”.

According to Pantami: “Digital Identity addresses the gaps occasioned by improper or lack of identification in the execution of mandates of Public Institutions or activities of Private Entities as they relate to individuals in Nigeria, who are the main beneficiaries of services and projects designed and/or enabled by government, and implemented by such institutions and/or the private sector.
As the digital economy sector evolves, now more than ever before, it becomes imperative to lay a strong foundational ID system for the country that can generate reliable and continuous data for policy and decision making, as well as accurate statistics for developmental planning and progress measurement”.

The highlights of the approved NIMC Condition of Service include but not limited
to:
i. Information about the NIMC, its core functions, offices and departments
and the reporting structure
ii. Employment eligibility, categories, Grade Level classifications and staff
obligations
iii. Categorization and eligibility for leave
iv. Promotion and career progression matters
v. Pension and retirement benefit for all categories of staff
vi. Robust Staff emoluments, amongst others.