Popular Female Politician Femi Claudius has written an Open Letter to Internal Affairs Minister And NCRA Director General ahead of deadline for obtaining the National Identification Card
In recent times.
The Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) Mr. Mohamed Massaquoi has called on citizens to go for their National Identification Card as it is mandatory.
The Card, according to NCRA entails every citizen’s National Identification Number (NIN) which makes it vital for all citizens to have theirs. The National ID Card will enable citizens to access social services and help the government plan well.
However, according to Cole, The March 31st, 2024, deadline is overly ambitious and unlikely to be me. She believes this date may have been set as a goal, and it could have been achieved with more inclusive planning. Price: with a national minimum wage of LE600,000, high unemployment, and increasing cost of survival, adding that its price tag of LE 145,000 is unaffordable for many and a disincentive to widespread compliance.
She states “As a revenue generator, it may not be as successful as having a lower cost and a higher number of ID applicants. Populace: The percentage of the population that wishes to open bank accounts or apply for a passport may be negligible. Students are already overburdened with a barrage of educational expenses. Pensioners struggle to get their meager pension payments, which cannot sustain them despite having served their communities and country. For the Parent with three or more children struggling with the cost of shelter, feeding, clothing, and transportation, this would be undue punishment.
The process: In many instances, the application process involves two or more visits to the NCRA office; transportation and time are valuable commodities that must be respected”
Suggestions: ID cards for all Sierra Leoneans over the age of retirement should be FREE. Students, the disabled, and all Sierra Leoneans under 18 years should be at a significantly reduced cost, Le 30-50,000 (depending on the production cost).
She urged for the process to be redesigned so that the application process can be completed in ONE visit (except in special circumstances). During the NCRA launch, CoPPP members, along with several other organizations, were engaged in the nationwide sensitization effort adding that a similar sensitization effort is desperately needed to explain its importance, ensure and encourage compliance.
