The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has opposed the Federal Government’s proposed National Learner Identification Number, arguing that it duplicates the National Identification Number (NIN) already used as the country’s official identity system.
The students’ body said while it supports efforts to improve education data management and strengthen the verification of academic records, creating a separate identification number for learners is unnecessary.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NANS President, Akinteye Afeez, maintained that the existing NIN should be sufficient for all identification purposes, including those relating to education.
According to the association, government agencies should focus on improving and fully utilising the current national identification framework rather than introducing an additional layer of identification for students.
NANS also stressed that students are major stakeholders in the education sector and should be consulted before policies affecting their records, identity and academic future are introduced.
The reaction follows the Federal Government’s announcement of plans to introduce a National Learner Identification Number as part of broader efforts to digitise education records, improve data accuracy and strengthen the verification of academic qualifications.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had explained that the proposed system would help establish consistent identity records from the beginning of a learner’s educational journey, reduce discrepancies in educational documentation and support efforts to combat certificate fraud.
The initiative is also expected to support the integration of education records with agencies such as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and other institutions involved in graduate verification.
However, NANS questioned the need for a separate learner identity system when Nigerians already possess a unique national identity number.
The association further criticised the National Orientation Agency (NOA), which announced the initiative, arguing that the agency should focus on its core mandate of public engagement and communication rather than championing the introduction of a new identification system.
Calling for an immediate suspension of the proposal, NANS insisted that any reforms affecting students should involve adequate consultation with stakeholders before implementation.
The disagreement comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to modernise education administration through digital platforms. The Ministry of Education is currently developing systems such as the Nigerian Education Repository Data Bank (NERD) and the Nigerian Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI) to improve the management, authentication and verification of academic records across the country.
While government officials argue that the proposed learner identification system would strengthen educational record-keeping and reduce identity-related challenges, NANS maintains that the objectives can be achieved through the existing NIN framework without creating an additional identification number for students.
The students’ body said it would continue to monitor the proposal and advocate policies that protect the interests and welfare of Nigerian students
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