NIMC Faces Backlash Over N28,574 DOB Correction Fee as Data Privacy Lawyer Cites Legal Breach
Barrister Oladipupo Ige, Director of Policy and Managing Partner at the Data Privacy Lawyers Association (DPLAN), has criticized the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for its new N28,574 fee for correcting date of birth (DOB) errors on the National Identification Number (NIN) database.
NIMC’s Controversial Price Hike
In an interview with Nairametrics, Ige accused NIMC of failing to inform Nigerians about exceptions to payment requirements under existing data protection laws. The Commission recently increased the DOB correction fee by 75%, from N16,340 to N28,574, as part of a broader price adjustment for NIN modification services.
Legal Provisions on Data Rectification
Article 36 of the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) 2025 clearly states that data subjects shouldn’t pay for corrections when errors originate from the data controller (NIMC in this case). The law mandates that:
- Citizens must have sufficient opportunity to verify their data before final submission
- Fees only apply when the error is the data subject’s fault
Expert Analysis of the Legal Breach
Barrister Ige emphasized several key points:
- NIMC must determine fault before charging for corrections
- The blanket fee violates data protection laws when NIMC is at fault
- The Commission should clarify exceptions to avoid unlawful charges
“What NIMC needs to do is clarify that position and make sure Nigerians don’t pay 28k for NIMC’s mistakes,” Ige stated.
NIMC’s Justification for Price Increase
The Commission cited multiple factors for the new pricing:
- Revenue generation and tax unification needs
- 32.7% inflation rate impact
- Comparisons with passport and driver’s license fees
- Infrastructure maintenance costs
NIMC maintains the adjustments followed extensive consultations and aim to balance public service with financial sustainability.