The Ibaji Progressive Youth Foundation (IPYF) has kicked against the one thousand Naira levy imposed on people of Ibaji local government area of Koigi state before that can register for National Identification Number (NIN).
In a petition forwarded to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abuja, the group fingered one Attah Daniel, from Dekina local government of Kogi state and another staff of NIMC who was recently transferred to Ibaji from the commission’s Lokoja office.
The petition, signed by IPYF National President, Comrade Apeh Kelvin and the General Secretary, Linus Egwu, urged NIMC to “take swift actions against Daniel Attah for financial fraud, cheating and breach of trust.”
The group lamented that Ibaji residents, who had suffered untold hardship occasioned by perennial flood disaster and total neglect by government, should not be subjected to further pains through unlawful levies.
The petition reads in part:
“Ibaji Local Government is strategically placed as the second largest in Kogi State yet it suffers immense underdevelopment and neglect; the State Government seems unavailable. A case study is the recent flood that destroyed properties and farm produce of the community; driving them further to poverty and suffering. Shockingly, parents and children have been denied access to clean water and school as their school infrastructures and other feet needs have been submerged.
“The flood menace is an annual occurrence, and every year leaves the people with huge human and economic losses. The pains and suffering by the flood which have subjected the people to poverty is yet to be recovered and we strongly believe the one thousand naira (1000) levy before registration is going to deprive majority whose farm produce were destroyed by the flood.
“It is as a result of the foregoing that we have decided to kick against the one thousand naira (1000) levy impose on our people before NIN registration.
“The Ibaji people are law abiding citizens and as such, it is not in our nature to breach the law that is why the petitioner write to notify your commission to take swift actions against Daniel Attah for financial fraud, cheating and breach of trust by the good people of ibaji local government of Kogi State.
“The petitioners hereby urge your commission to look into our expressed concern, investigate this petition and bring the offender to justice.”
