The National President of the Association of Telephone, Cable and Internet Subscribers, [ATCIS] Hon. Sina Bilesanmi has cautioned the
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami over a statement he issued to Nigerian Mobile Telephone subscribers who are yet link their Subscriber Identity Module [SIM] with the National Identity Number [NIN] before the new deadline, May 6.
While reacting to the Minister’s statement, Bilesanmi said “I believe this is the right time for him [Pantami] to obey the court order rather than threatening to block the lines of Nigerian Mobile Telephone subscribers over their inability to link their SIM with NIN”.
Citizen NewsNG gathered that Patanmi had warned Subscribers to verify their SIM using NIN as soon as possible before the federal government take action against them.
“On the issue of NIN-SIM verification to fight insecurity, there is no going back. Our priority as government based on the provision of our constitution 1999 (as amended) Section 14(2)b is security, not just economy. For sure, no going back at all”, the Minister emphasised.
In his response, Bilesanmi said that
Unemployment breeds insecurity and crime. A major problem confronting Nigeria other countries in the world. He however frown at all forms of crimes and social vices being perpetrated by some individuals in country.
“The rising level of unemployment in the country can be attributed to the increase in security challenges. Many school leavers and employable adults are unable to secure jobs and the government is unable to act fast enough in finding a solution to this problem. Unemployment in the country is directly responsible for the increasing security challenges in Nigeria”, He noted.
“For sustainable development to be achieved, the federal government must urgently address the unemployment crisis facing the country so as to adequately tackle its security challenges”, Bilesanmi advised.
“This should be a warning to Pantami. If he fails to do the needful by obeying the court order, the whole Nigerian Mobile Telephone subscribers would call for his removal as a Minister,” The ATCIS President said while speaking with Citizen NewsNG.
Bilesanmi argued that the Minister is an individual that cannot singlehandedly make decision on behalf of over 200 millions Mobile Telephone subscribers in the country.
Citizen NewsNG could recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State had ordered the federal government to extend the deadline following a suit filed by a former National Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Human Rights Lawyer, Bar. Monday Ubani on behalf of Mobile Telephone subscribers, challenging the legality of the deadline as earlier stated by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The court also barred the Federal Government from deactivating Mobile Telephone subscribers Sim cards on April 6, 2021.
Bilesanmi however insisted that the court order of March 26 extending the deadline of SIM-NIN linkage from April 6 by two months is still valid. An order that supercedes the federal government’s one month extension.
The ATCIS National President, Bilesanmi renewed his call for Stakeholders’ collaboration and Periodic engagement.
He said: “All the noise the Minister has been making is not the way forward. The way forward is to call a round Table meetings of Stakeholders including ATCIS which is the Subscribers’ Association Body. Pantami has failed to call such stakeholders meetings.”
@ Citizen NewsNG / Citizen Magazine