Nigerians have expressed anger at a new Federal Government directive mandating individuals and corporate organisations operating accounts with financial institutions to fill and submit self-certificaton forms to each of the institutions.
The directive was contained in a statement via the Federal Government’s official Twitter handle @NigeriaGov on Thursday.
The statement read, “This is to notify the general public that all account holders in Financial Institutions (Banks, Insurance Companies, etc) are required to obtain, complete and submit Self-Certification Forms to their respective Financial Institutions.
“Persons holding accounts in different financial institutions is required to complete and submit the form to each one of the institutions.
“The forms are required by the relevant financial institutions to carry out due diligence procedures in line with the Income Tax Regulations 2019.
“The self-certification form is in 3 categories: Form for Entity; For Controlling Person (Individuals having controlling interest in a legal person, trustee, etc); and Form for individual.
“Failure to comply with the requirement to administer or execute this form attracts sanctions which may include monetary penalty or inability to operate the account. For more enquiries visit@firsNigeria website (firs.gov.ng) for more details.”
Many Nigerians that replied the tweets, including known supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government, objected to the timing of the directive.
According to them, chaos would ensue should Nigerians throng the financial institutions to fill and submit the forms at a time that the nation was yet to fully overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read comments below:
BVN. Driver's license. National ID card. INEC registration. International passport. Biometrics were taken in all these places. So, what is the meaning of this?
— Olusegun Adeniyi (@Olusegunverdict) September 17, 2020
Na you do National ID card, na you do SIM registration, you even did Bank Verification Number to align accounts but you are here again talking “Self-Certification. Even if you are confused about running government, can you at least pretend not to be confused?
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) September 17, 2020
BVN. National Driver's license. National ID card. INEC registration. International Passport. Biometrics were taken in all these places. Why do you people like to see us suffer in queues for no reason? Can’t you take whatever data you need already? This is just so wrong. https://t.co/mbh4adyXLV
— The Godfather JP (@AyoOyalowo) September 17, 2020
Forward-thinking Nations are building digital solutions to solve various problems. But in 2020, our own government still wants us to go queue under the sun to fill and submit "self a certification" forms despite National ID, BVN, Voters Card etc. Suffer no dey taya you????
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) September 17, 2020
You want us to enter banks to do a manual version of the BVN process which we have already done… during COVID…. PLEASE GO BACK AND HAVE ANOTHER STRATEGY MEETING!
— Ннамди Обаня (@namobanya) September 17, 2020
Poor communication technique, very poor.
Where's a date and deadline to work with?, what exactly is this new development for? Can't BVN play it's role? What incentive have you provided for ease of doing this? Are we to march to the banks?
This is not 1922!!
— Akwa Ugoo❤ (@rosemary_enemuo) September 17, 2020
This is 21st century for goodness sake. What joy do this administration derive from stressing the populace. This administration is truly the worst. You're so bent on making life miserable for us.
— Debo (@deboakintoye) September 17, 2020
Stone age government
— MaAziEben (@groovereben) September 17, 2020
I have read this absolute piece of gibberish three times and I still can't understand the motive behind people queuing at banks to fill a form which can be done online. I can't believe this government actually want citizens to queue at banks in the middle of a FVCKING pandemic!
— Oyeledun Michael (@cmmoyeledun) September 17, 2020
and how do we know the forms wont be compromise by banks staff and bank accounts wiped off. Also, our BVNs are with the banks.. why all these stress??
— Flowing Lava🇳🇬 (@empopson) September 17, 2020
So, the datas we have in the bank can't certify us anymore, people still need to go fill a self certification form, what is the essence of this again. No reason attached it instead you issue threat to the entire populace, may God judge you accordingly
— Miracle (@Miracle69701444) September 17, 2020
You guys keep making it impossible for Nigerians to remain Nigerians in Nigeria. Keep drilling o, you will discover a hoil.
— COUNT Luchino (@olasiji) September 17, 2020