Press Statement
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) totally rejects the repressive
decision of the President Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC)
Federal Government to further squeeze Nigerians by imposing a N5000 fee
for national identity cards.
The party says the very idea of ID Card fee by the Buhari administration
is insupportable, reprehensible and completely offensive to the
sensibilities of Nigerians as free citizens.
The PDP stresses that imposing such unwarranted and unjustified levy on
Nigerians, for internal social safety instrument, amounts to wicked
fleecing as well as stripping of their constitutional rights in their
own nation.
Our party holds that issuance of national identity card to citizens, as
an obligation of the state to its citizenry, must remain free as
established by the PDP. The N5000 levy must be immediately rescinded
before it triggers restiveness in the nation.
Already, the fee is generating tension in the country as Nigerians have
continued to register their rejection in the public space.
The PDP notes the increasing penchant of the APC administration to
impose all sorts of taxes on suffering Nigerians. Only recently, the
Buhari-led APC administration increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) on
goods and services from 5 percent to 7.5 percent. This is in addition to
increase in tariffs for electricity and other services as well as the
obnoxious decision to return the tollgates on our major highways.
Our party cautions that such impositions breed resentment and erode the
much-desired patriotism; leading to the escalation of social vices and
low commitment to nation building by citizens.
The PDP therefore charges President Buhari to direct the National
Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to immediately cancel its decision
to levy Nigerians for national identity cards.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
