NIN Enrolment: NIMC seeks N25bn for storage servers

The National Identity Management Commission is proposing N25 billion

to procure more servers for the storage of National Identity Number

enrolment records.

It is to submit its proposal to the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday.

The Director General, NIMC, Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, disclosed this on

Tuesday while appearing before Senate Public Accounts Committee, which

is probing the agency over alleged non-compliance with Public

Procurement Act on award of N229 million contract.

He said 57 million persons have, so far, been registered, adding that

90 servers were needed to register 100 million Nigerians.

“For us to reach 100 million, we will need 90 servers. We have

enrolled 57 million as of today. We will ask for N25 billion at FEC

tomorrow to buy more server to take the whole of population,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Auditor-General for the Federation, in a 2017 report,

said NIMC, in October, 2017 procured 22 units of servers at a cost of

N229.7 million with no evidence of Ministerial Tender’s Board

approval.

There was an initial payment of ₦103.4 million vide payment voucher

number NIMC/01/016 CA/18 dated 19/01/18, representing 45% of the

contract sum as against the mobilization fee of 15%. The other

subsequent payments were not also backed by an interim performance

certificate as required by Section 35(2) of the public procurement Act

2007.

“This is an indication of weakness in the internal control system at

National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). This could lead to

poor value for money and possibility of misapplication and

misappropriation of funds. Management’s response No response was

received from management at the time of our report. Recommendation The

Director General is required to refund the sum of ₦229 million,” the

audit query said.

But the Director General claimed that the contract falls within the

threshold of the Commission’s Tenders Board and that all the servers

had been supplied before the initial payment of 45 percent which

represent part payment and not mobilization due to paucity of funds.

He also said the contract was a continuation of procurement of

Enterprise Servers and Storage Solution and Equipment which was

awarded in 2012.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, said it was

wrong for the commission to continue 2012 Procurement process in 2017.

“We supposed to do status enquiry on your Commission because it looks

like all your documents are muddled up,” the lawmaker said.

The committee therefore asked the commission’s officials to reappear

next week with more documents to back up their claims

(Daily Trust)