Deputy Governor, Delta state, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro stated this when he received in audience the State Coordinator, National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Barrister Henrietta Okolie, to mark the International Identity Day in Asaba.
A release by the Special Assistant on on, Elohor Rita Agbra, the Deputy Governor noted that inadequate data for planning purposes has affected the development of the country, advising NIMC to do more in sensitizing the people on the importance of having their national identity card.
In his words: “This is so because without appropriate data there cannot be planning and development, and of course if there is no planning and development, it will be half- hazzard, such that, it will be ill directed and would not be able to achieve the end purpose for which the planning and development is meant to achieve”.
“NIMC has lots of work to do to ensure that we have reliable data for our national planning and development. Am sure that with the support of the Federal and State Governments and all stakeholders, we will be able to achieve that laudable objective of having reliable data for our national planning.
“For us in Delta we take very serious cognisance of the fact that we cannot do without reliable data in our planning for the development of our state, like you have alluded to our using the National Identity Number (NIN) in registering our people for the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme.
“Like in the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, as a government, we believe we cannot have a situation were our people, especially from the rural area, are unable to pay some little amount that is meant to avail them health service delivery.
“And the challenges therein has been disastrous, that sometimes they go and obtain loans from money lenders thereby putting the family into huge debts which sometimes they are unable to come out from.
“So we thought it wise as a state to ensure that we bring our citizenry into the bracket of the contributory health insurance scheme to be able to avail them health service delivery and this would not have been possible without been able to generate the neccessary data that would capture them into the health insurance scheme”. Otuaro stated.
Earlier, the State Coordinator, National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Barr. Henrietta Okolie, noted that, 16th September 2020 was set aside to observe the National Identity Day.
She said the Theme for this year celebration, ” Identity For Health, Sustainable Development And Growth”, is aimed at stimulating public awareness.
“Today is a very special day in the lives of Nigerians and the global community. Every September 16 has been set aside and graciously approved by the Federal Government for us to observe the National Identity Day.
“This is the second edition of the celebration, we had the maiden edition last year 2019 and the essence of celebrating this day is to create awareness on the importance of identification for national planning and development”, she stated.
