News
Reps ask NCC to extend SIM re-registration by 10 weeks
BY PAUL SILAS
The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to extend the deadline for re-registration of SIM cards, using the National Identity Number (NIN) to 10 weeks.
The House at plenary Wednesday resolved that the NCC should give a reasonable time to enable Nigerians submit their National Identity Numbers (NIN) to service providers and not the two weeks given.
The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim, had mandated the NCC to ensure the implementation of the SIM re-registration policy effective today, Wednesday, with a warning that any subscriber who failed to comply on or before December 30, 2020 will have their SIM blocked.
The House resolution was arrived at after an amendment to a prayer and adoption of motion moved by its Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta).
Elumelu had argued that the two weeks deadline for Nigerians to link their SIM registration with National Identification Number (NIN) be extended to four weeks.
He expressed concern that although the idea behind the policy may seem good, the timing was very wrong, adding that Nigerians have not been properly sensitised, as only a few educated persons who bother to read the dailies might have heard about this instruction.
READ: NCC orders mobile operators to stop new SIM sale, registration
“Therefore, trying to enforce this policy in a period where most Nigerians are gearing up for Christmas festivities may lead to stampede in the process of rushing to get registered which could lead to unnecessary deaths and injuries.
“If the NCC is allowed to carry out this directive, it will bring about untold hardship as millions of subscribers will be disconnected this yuletide period which could spell disaster in an already volatile nation like ours.
“If the NCC is not urgently called to halt their plans, there may be unnecessary panic in the country which may lead to exploitation of vulnerable Nigerians, thereby causing more pains in an already pathetic situation, hence the need to urgently wade into this impending crisis,” he pleaded.
After contributions and amendment to the prayer, the House called on the NCC to extend the deadline to 10 weeks.
It also mandated the House Committee on Communications to ensure compliance.