Governor Ikpeazu launches Abia State Social Identity Number, ASSIN

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, on Wednesday, officially launched the Abia State Social Identity Number (ASSIN) and also registered in the scheme, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka announced this in a statement made available to journalists in Aba.

Ikpeazu, at the official unveiling of the programme at the Governor’s Lodge, Aba, emphasised the significance of data in governance and administration, stating that ASSIN would aid the Abia government to plan, tackle unemployment issues in the state, demographic distribution of infrastructure and resources, among others.

The Governor said ASSIN will serve as a pass that will guide relationships between citizens and the government as well as a requisite to enrol in school and other businesses citizens have with the government.

Ikpeazu added that it had become a civic responsibility of all Abia citizens to register for the programme, which is user-friendly and also free of charge as it can be done from the comfort of their homes.

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

The Governor pledged the government’s support for the programme in every way, to make it effective as it would boost service delivery.

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

Chikezie added that Abia people in the diaspora could enrol on the scheme, using an internet-enabled android phone, stating that the need for the scheme was long overdue as it was vital for planning purposes, including capturing the state’s developmental progresses.

She disclosed 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.

Chikezie said registration details would soon be made public and expressed gratitude to Governor Ikpeazu for launching the programme.