THE
absence of a sustainable universal identification prompted the Federal
Government to initiate the National identity card, how recently development has
showed that it currently propelling the government into running a digital
government driven solely by technology.
As
part of that initiative, the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, had
a joint media session with MasterCard where both organization attempted to
unveil the link that exist between government and business in the private
sector when technology is applied.
Speaking
at the event, director-general/chief executive officer of NIMC,Dr.Chris Onyemenam
said that the card technology, which the federal government has introduced will
not only enhance government business but have impact on the national e-payment
as well as other financial transaction.
He
explained that for government, with the card technology details of every
citizens’ life can be capture in the chips in the card saying details will
include everything about the citizen from birth to death.
According
to him, before the introduction of the card, there had been identity challenges which have
implications on financial services, national security and economic development.
He noted that challenges
with proof of identity in Nigeria has to do with the preponderance of
multiple identities and identity tokens, absence of a sustainable universal
identification infrastructure in Nigeria, card issuance mistaken
for identity management, challenge of identity verification and
authentication with implications for commerce and security, public cynicism arising from failed efforts of the past, and financial exclusion of the unbanked and increased
cost of KYC.
Describing the new
National Identity card as government’s response to identity management
challenges Onyemenam
said that in order to promote financial
inclusion, the NIMS made provision for a payment functions in the card adding
that all components of the NIMS are
based on best practice in identity management to ensure proof of identity.
He stated that the National
e-ID card has 13 applets and the Payment applet is just one of them and
functions like a typical ATM Card saying that personal information is safeguarded by the
National Identity Management Commission and is not shared with any private
parties.
While asserting that the National
e-ID card is a both a tool for national identity, he noted that the features in
it makes possible for it to be used for electronic payment noting that the Europay, MasterCard and
Visa,EMV, is a global standard for inter-operation of integrated circuit cards
and IC card capable point of sale (POS) terminals and automated teller machines
(ATMs), for authenticating credit and debit card transactions.
Onyemenam disclosed that a
firewall is available between the other card applets and EMV applet to prevent
information sharing between the EMV and other applets, and that the EMV Applet is
activated upon request by the card user saying that cash is loaded on the
card only after the user has given authorisation to the bank.
He added that the other
benefits of card to the payment industry is improved visibility of the earning population, individual net worth and
reduction of tax evasion and promotion of the ease of delivery of inter-bank related services in the financial sector
as well as the promotion of the inclusion of the rural population and the
introduction of micro ATMs.
Division
President, Sub-Saharan, Africa, MasterCard, Daniel Monehin said that the
electronic Identity holds a lot benefit for governments saying that it will
help drive financial inclusion,
reduce
costs and promote transparency,
spur
economic growth, increase
civic engagement and create savings and efficiencies.
He
added that it will help government drive its business in the area of public
sector salary, pension, social benefits, and agric subsidies.
No comments:
Post a Comment