‘What‘s BVN, National ID For?’ – Nigerians Decry FG’s Directive For Bank Account Holders To Fill, Submit Self-Certification Forms

Nigerians have decried Federal Government’s directive ordering all persons with accounts across financial institutions like banks and insurance firms to complete and submit self-certification forms.

The directive was announced by the Federal Government in a social media statement on Thursday.

FG warned that failure to comply may include monetary penalty or inability to operate the account.

Read Also: FG Orders Nigerians With Bank Accounts To Fill, Submit Self-Certification Forms

It stated;

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 ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE & 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 Federal Government expressed that;

THE CERTIFICATION FORMS WOULD BE IN 3 CATEGORIES, WHICH ARE “FORM FOR ENTITY – FOR CONTROLLING PERSON (INDIVIDUALS HAVING CONTROLLING INTEREST IN A LEGAL PERSON, TRUSTEE, ETC) – FORM FOR INDIVIDUAL.

In addition, FG urged Nigerians to comply with the requirements and execute all forms needs, if not sanctions may be introduced in the forms of monetary penalty or inability to operate the account.

The announcement was however greeted with outrage on Twitter Thursday evening.

Many Nigerians who commented on the new move expressed worry over the duplication of such efforts across different departments and agencies of government.

According to multiple opinions, data can be generated from BVN, National ID, drivers license, SIM registration, international passport or other documents that many Nigerians already have.

Others wondered why the nation was fixated on such “analogue” and “laborious” means of generating data from its citizens.

Some Nigerians also called the government for attempting to expose citizens to risk of contracting COVID-19, as the self-certification forms are to be submit at the office of the financial institutions.

See some reactions below;

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

Small time they will ask us to go and bring the left finger of our dead grand mothers. Because after BVN, Drivers Licence, International Passport, Birth Certificate, SIM registration, National ID card, I don’t know what else they want.

— Dr. Dípò Awójídé (@OgbeniDipo) September 17, 2020

BVN = biometric. National ID = biometric. SIM registration = biometric. Drivers License = Biometric. But I assure you, this new “self-certification” is the baba of them all, once it is done, everything that couldn’t be done with all these other ones will be done. SMH.

— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) September 17, 2020

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

We’ve identified & verified ourselves through every means possible with National ID, BVN, sim registration, drivers license etc but you still want us to MANUALLY fill form to come & tell you who we are AGAIN. If you don’t know who we are at this point, we are fine with it abeg

— ebele. (@ebelee_) September 17, 2020

2020

We should still be going to bank to physically submit self-certification form

Even after BVN and National ID card.

See ehn
Nobody in that Federal Government has the smallest ounce of sense.

— daniel, 🚀 (@AdejoroDaniel) September 17, 2020

Self-Certification is a code name for violation of privacy and giving the Nigerian government and FIRS opportunity to steal directly from your bank account. Its only in Nigeria one person would do Biometrics, BVN, National ID, Drivers license and still do Self-Certification.

— Mayowa Olagunju ❁ (@iam_doctormayor) September 17, 2020

I have 6+ accounts, that means I will visit those 6 banks separately to do this trash. 3 of these banks are virtual.
I did National ID since 2014, till date, I still see another person’s name there, I don’t have NIN.

See eh, nothing dey una brain, na just dust and vibes. https://t.co/uKjAzlFZZe

— Enyiuche (UncleSnr) (@Emperorneco) September 17, 2020

The Buhari regime behaves like a stubborn witch that is determined to kill its victim by all means. They don’t even pretend about the fact that they want to foist hardship on the citizens. Asking people to line up in banks and fill forms despite National ID and BVN is ludicrous.

— Inibehe Effiong (@InibeheEffiong) September 17, 2020

So BVN, Drivers Licence, International Passport, Birth Certificate, SIM registration, National ID card, Voter cards is not enough for Verification? Kuku tell us to bring our forefathers foot prints cos this una change to Next Level don tire me abeg!

— Yakuza of Ibadan 🏝 (@UncleAbiodun) September 17, 2020

U have BVN, Drivers Licence, International Passport, Birth Certificate, SIM registration, National ID card, Voters card bt it is not enough. U have to gt self-certification to continue operating ur accounts, I think the worst thing that can happen to a man is 2 be born in Nigeria

— Al’ameen✨ (@Al_ameen_Yabo) September 17, 2020

After BVN, National ID, and other means of identification already gotten, I think for Self-Certification, we’ll have to drop our blood cos I don’t get this country again

— Vicky too much Grace 🥺 💙 (@VickyShegzy) September 17, 2020

In this 21century, Nigerian govts aren’t think of how to improve the life of their people. But they wants us to go & queue for Self Certificate. After having National ID. Driver’s License. BVN & Voters Card. For how long are we going to continue enduring madness in this country?

— IFA FUNSHO (@funshographix) September 17, 2020

After BVN, National ID, and other means of identification already gotten, I think for Self-Certification, we’ll have to drop our blood cos I don’t get this country again

— Vicky too much Grace 🥺 💙 (@VickyShegzy) September 17, 2020

Self Certification Form is the thing now. So BVN, Travel Passport, Drivers License, SIM Registration and National ID were all total waste of time. May be suffering should be the second name of Nigerians.

— U M A R – F A R O U Q (@SukaPeret) September 17, 2020

This is one one the most stupid and idiotic ideas. What happened to National id, bvn and the likes. Do you even remember social distance ethics. Now you want us all to go line up day long and face unnecessary stress at our various banks. Mtcheew! Wtf😒😏

— Black with the vibes🖤🤩😎 (@Sheriff_mightee) September 17, 2020

What is a self certification form anyway? Isn’t a bvn or driver’s licence or national ID enough to curb whatever illegal activities that may prevail using financial instruments. This is another stage of cluenessness o

— TACITURN🕑 (@vIQtoOoR) September 17, 2020

You follow National ID card/ Voters card cue, account opening cue, BVN cue, and ATM cue. All these cues aren’t enough, now you have to fill a useless self certification form and follow yet another cue in each an every bank you’re associated with.

— Mucktey ➐ (@Mucktey) September 17, 2020