Engr. Aliyu A. Aziz Completes Two Terms as DG of National Identity Management Commission

Engr. Aliyu A. Aziz has officially stepped down as the Director General (DG) of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) after successfully completing two four-year terms in office. On Wednesday, Engr. Aziz handed over the reins of leadership to Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, as announced by NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communication, Kayode Adegoke.

Engr. Coker-Odusote was appointed as the Acting DG of NIMC by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a three-month period, as reported by Kemi Filani News. However, Tinubu has stated that Engr. Coker-Odusote will become the substantive DG of NIMC starting from November 23, 2023.

During his tenure as the DG of NIMC, Engr. Aziz achieved significant milestones, including the exponential growth of the National Identification Number (NIN) records in the National Identity Database. The number of records rose from seven million in 2015 to over 100 million unique records today. Engr. Aziz’s leadership also facilitated the approval of new conditions of service and a revised salary scale for NIMC employees, fostering a conducive work environment for the commission’s over 4000 staff members.

Under Engr. Aziz’s tenure, NIMC took crucial steps towards expanding its services. The number of NIN enrollment centers in the country increased from a mere 700 in 2015 to over 18,000. Additionally, the Commission extended its reach to the diaspora with more than 500 centers established in approximately 40 countries worldwide. The expansion of the National Identity Database also commenced during Engr. Aziz’s term and is still in progress.

Engr. Aziz’s departure marks the end of an era at NIMC, and the incoming DG, Engr. Coker-Odusote, will carry the responsibility of furthering the commission’s achievements and ensuring the efficient implementation of its initiatives.