Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State on Wednesday officially launched the Abia State Social Identity Number and also enrolled in the scheme.

This was disclosed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, in a statement in Aba.

Ikpeazu, at the official launch of the scheme at the Governor’s Lodge, Aba, stressed the importance of data in governance and administration, saying that ASSIN would help the Abia State Government in planning, addressing unemployment issues in the state, demographic distribution of infrastructure and resources, among others.

The identity numbers will serve as a pass that will guide relationships between citizens and the government, Ikpeazu said, adding that the ASSIN would also be required in school enrollment and other businesses citizens have with the government.

The governor said it had become a civic responsibility of all Abia citizens to enroll in the scheme, which had been made user-friendly for enrollees to register free of charge from the comfort of their homes.

Ikpeazu added that he was looking forward to the digitalisation of the activities of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state, adding that when fully operational, the scheme would make it difficult for civil servants to be paid without the number.

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He pledged the government’s support for the scheme in every way, to make it successful as it would improve service delivery.

The Permanent Secretary and Executive Secretary, Abia State Planning Commission, Dr. Nnenna Chikezie, described the ASSIN as an identity management platform that would capture users’ biometrics.

Chikezie also said Abia people in the diaspora could enroll on the scheme, using an internet-enabled android phone, explaining further that the need for the scheme was long over due as it was required for planning purposes, including capturing the state’s developmental strides.

Chikezie added that two million Abia citizens were targeted for capture and registration in 12 months, as the ASSIN would be the identification for anybody desiring services from the Abia government.

She said details on the registration would soon be made public and thanked the governor for initiating the scheme.