House of Representatives (Reps) has asked the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to extend the two-week deadline issued to all Nigerians to re-register their sims with a valid National Id card.
On Tuesday, December 16 2020, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) shocked Nigerians after announcing that All Sims must be re-registered with valid National Id card within two-week or get their sim blocked.
This became a serious problem for many Nigerians who took to social media to react angrily to the news.
Less than 24 hours, Reps called the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to extend the two-week deadline for the implementation of the new sim registration rules till February 28, 2021.
Reps stated the below reasons why NCC should extend the sim registration:
“As laudable as the policy is, Nigerians have not been properly sensitized.
In this yuletide season, it could lead to stampede and exploitation”
Reacting to this, Uzoma Abonta also said that 12 months will be ideal for the process knowing fully well that over 50 Millions of Nigerians use Mobile network.
However, the 1-year extension proposed was later rejected by the house.
SIM Registration: Reps ask NCC to extend deadline on new regulation by 10 weeks
The @HouseNGR has asked the @NgComCommission and the @FMoCDENigeria to extend the deadline for the new regulation on the registration of mobile telephone Subscriber Identity Module cards to 10 weeks. pic.twitter.com/ZhGxLnnZnz
— House of Reps NGR (@HouseNGR) December 16, 2020
In a resolution passed by the House in Abuja on Wednesday, it said the deadline should be February 28, 2021 to give subscribers adequate time to meet up the requirement.
— House of Reps NGR (@HouseNGR) December 16, 2020
The NCC had on Tuesday set a deadline of December 16 to December 30 for subscribers to upgrade their registration with network operators by linking it to their National Identification Number (NIN).
— House of Reps NGR (@HouseNGR) December 16, 2020
It warned that subscribers who failed to meet the requirement within the deadline would have their lines blocked.
But, the House, which was presided over by Speaker @femigbaja, observed that it would be impossible for Nigerians to meet up with the requirement within 2 weeks.
— House of Reps NGR (@HouseNGR) December 16, 2020
Following a motion of urgent public importance moved by the Minority Leader of the House, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu, the lawmakers resolved that the deadline should be extended to 10 weeks to terminate on February 28, 2021.
— House of Reps NGR (@HouseNGR) December 16, 2020
Making a case for the extension, Elumelu, a Peoples Democratic Party member from Delta State, noted that, “Millions of subscribers will be disconnected and this will lead to untold hardships for Nigerians this Christmas.
— House of Reps NGR (@HouseNGR) December 16, 2020
 to extend the two-week deadline issued to all NigeriansNCC){kind=link}