Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: digital identity

  • Federal Government Unveils Enhanced Measures to Combat Exam Fraud

    Federal Government Unveils Enhanced Measures to Combat Exam Fraud

    In an update published by The Nation, the Federal Government has introduced a suite of new measures designed to curb examination malpractices across the country. These include the rollout of unique identification numbers for all candidates sitting for WAEC and NECO examinations, as well as the integration of advanced biometric verification systems at all testing centers.

    The initiative aims to protect the integrity of the Nigerian education system, which has been under scrutiny due to the rise of ‘miracle centers’ and digital cheating methods. Education officials emphasized that these reforms are part of a broader digital transformation strategy intended to modernize the academic assessment process.

    The development was also validated by Daily Post and Tribune Online. Daily Post reported that ‘FG to roll out unique ID for WAEC, NECO candidates,’ while Tribune Online noted that ‘JAMB maintains no fee hike for 2026 UTME’ as part of the government’s effort to keep education accessible while tightening security.

    Echotitbits take: Curbing exam fraud is essential for the international credibility of Nigerian degrees. The unique ID system is a smart move toward a centralized education database. However, the real test will be whether the government can effectively monitor the rural centers where the most egregious malpractices usually occur.
    Source: TheWhistler – https://thewhistler.ng/fg-to-end-cheating-in-waec-neco-exams/ January 6 2026

    Photo Credit: TheWhistler

  • FIRS moves to make NIN and CAC numbers the backbone of Nigeria’s tax IDs

    FIRS moves to make NIN and CAC numbers the backbone of Nigeria’s tax IDs

    Photo Credit: The Nation
    2025-12-24 06:12:00

    Reporting by The Nation indicates the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is pushing a unified identity approach for taxation—where individuals’ NIN and companies’ CAC registration numbers function as the primary tax identifiers.

    The change is positioned as a cleanup of Nigeria’s fragmented tax identity ecosystem—multiple identifiers, inconsistent databases, and loopholes that make compliance tracking and enforcement harder.

    By linking tax identity to the national identity system and corporate registry, authorities say they can reduce duplication, improve taxpayer coverage, and make it harder to “disappear” across systems.

    For individuals and businesses, the biggest shift is conceptual: you’re expected to treat your NIN/CAC number as your tax identity anchor, with tax records mapped to that single ID across agencies.

    The Guardian quoted FIRS: “For individuals, your NIN automatically serves as your Tax ID… You do not need a physical card,” and Channels TV echoed the same clarification: “You do not need a physical card; the Tax ID is a unique number linked directly to your identity.”

    Echotitbits take: This can either tighten compliance or widen mistrust, depending on how transparently it’s implemented. Watch for data-protection safeguards, dispute-resolution for wrong linkages, and whether state tax authorities harmonise—or keep parallel systems that recreate confusion.

    Source: The Nation — December 23, 2025 (https://thenationonlineng.net/nin-becomes-automatic-tax-id/)
    The Nation 2025-12-23

  • NiDCOM says diaspora portal passes 100,000 registrations as data mapping expands

    NiDCOM says diaspora portal passes 100,000 registrations as data mapping expands

    Photo Credit: The NIDCOM Boss, Abike Dabiri–Erewa – The New Nigerian
    2025-12-14

    According to The Punch, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says more than 100,000 Nigerians have registered on its diaspora data-mapping portal, as it seeks more reliable population and skills data on citizens abroad.

    NiDCOM acknowledged the broader challenge of capturing accurate figures for a diaspora community estimated to be far larger than current registrations, and said the portal is designed to improve planning and engagement.

    A government-backed report on the portal’s launch said NiDCOM created the Data Mapping and Registry Portal to enhance realistic data capture for Nigerians living abroad.

    NiDCOM’s portal documentation describes the platform as a structured registry with country-specific mapping pages for diaspora communities.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Quality diaspora data can strengthen policy design—investment channels, diaspora bonds, consular support and targeted skills programmes. The key risk is trust: privacy protections and clear benefits for registration. Watch for incentives, data governance assurances, and evidence that registration improves services.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/nidcom-registers-over-100000-nigerians-abroad/)