In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to integrate the National Identification Number (NIN) into the National Social Register (NSR) for enhanced transparency in social interventions, the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), State Operations Coordinating Units (SOCU), and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have been working tirelessly to achieve this goal. Following nationwide workshops organized in March 2025, SOCU teams were deployed to the field across all states. Enugu State has emerged as a leader in this initiative, particularly in the Southeast region.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This remarkable milestone is attributed to His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, whose directive to the Honorable Commissioner for Budget & Planning, Barr. Ozongwu, as the ministry that supervises SOCU, to scale up the Federal Government’s directive and bring the state into line forthwith by harvesting new data and validating existing ones with NIN. This recognizes NIN’s critical importance to the state’s Social Protection Policy. His Excellency’s dogged crusade against poverty in all its ramifications, as outlined in the Enugu State Social Protection Policy (ESSPP) document 2023-2028, is a driving force. The policy aims to deliver inclusive prosperity for all, with SOCU serving as the bedrock for providing credible data for targeting the most vulnerable populations. By leveraging SOCU data, the state can guide poverty reduction interventions, invest in human capital development, and bridge inequalities, ultimately striving to achieve a 0% rate in the poverty headcount index.
In furtherance to this same directive of His Excellency’s, SOCU has gone ahead to give free NIN registrations to Enugu State household members in this exercise and this has encouraged thousands of households to enrol for their NIN.
This achievement underscores the state’s enthusiasm and dedication under Governor Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s leadership.
Overview
Total Submissions by Zone as at May 25, 2025 NASSCO Chart :
Out of the total submissions of 250,341 from the South East, Enugu State alone has 73,435 submissions clinching the first position in the South East in terms of Number of Households captured with NIN.
Furthermore ,only Enugu and Bauchi have covered up to 40% of the data given to them for update. This clearly demonstrates Enugu’s excellent performance and leadership in this initiative within the Southeast and nationally.
The NSR update and NIN integration initiative is a critical undertaking that aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to eradicate poverty in the country using data-driven methods for social protection delivery. Enugu State’s performance serves as a model in the South, demonstrating operational commitment, strategic leadership, and effective mobilization. However, significant regional disparities highlight the need for targeted interventions to support lagging areas. As the initiative progresses, it will be crucial for all stakeholders to maintain momentum, ensure data quality, and strengthen inter-agency collaboration to reach full LGA coverage and national NIN integration targets.