NIMC Sets Conditions to Waive N28,574 Fee for Date of Birth Corrections
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that the new fee of N28,574 for correcting the date of birth (DOB) in the National Identification Number (NIN) database will be waived if the error was made by the Commission itself.
This information was shared in a letter from Festus Esangbedo, the Head of the Legal Regulatory Compliance Service Department at NIMC, which was exclusively obtained by Nairametrics. The letter addresses a request from the Data Privacy Lawyers Association (DPLAN) regarding compliance with Nigerian data protection laws related to fees for correcting DOB on NIN records.
Previously, on May 10, 2025, NIMC released a new pricing structure for all services related to data modifications in the NIN database. The updated fee for correcting the DOB is now N28,574, which is a 75% increase from the previous charge of N16,340.
On May 12, 2025, Barrister Oladipupo Ige, the Director of Policy at DPLAN, informed Nairametrics in an exclusive interview that the Commission had not adequately communicated the exceptions and waivers for DOB correction fees as required by relevant data laws.
What Relevant Data Law Says
Article 36 of the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) 2025 outlines the right to rectification. Section 4 of this article states that if a data correction is needed due to an error made by a data controller or processor, the individual affected should not have to pay for the correction if it is not their fault. The section also emphasizes that individuals must have the opportunity to verify their data before it is finalized.
Ige pointed out that, according to Article 36 of the NDP-GAID 2025, if the error in the DOB is the citizen’s fault, they must pay the fee; otherwise, the correction is free by law. He stressed that while NIMC can set and increase fees, it cannot charge for corrections that are not the individual’s fault. He alleged that NIMC’s fee increase for DOB corrections aims to charge everyone, regardless of who made the error, which would violate the law if citizens are required to pay N28,000 for corrections due to NIMC’s mistakes.
NIMC Response
In response, Esangbedo clarified that if errors occur due to NIMC or its agents during the initial data capture, the Commission will provide immediate corrections at no cost once notified. “This aligns with our obligations under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023,” he stated.
He explained that the current self-service modification system includes several verification steps before final submission, such as validating the National Population Commission (NPC) certificate number, which automatically fills in the DOB field, and reviewing all information before confirmation.
“The Commission follows a fault-based approach: errors caused by NIMC or its agents are corrected free of charge, while modifications requested by applicants based on new documentation will incur fees. Therefore, the fee of N28,574 applies only to voluntary changes initiated by applicants after their initial registration. This is a value-added service for those looking to update their DOB based on new documentation, not for correcting NIMC’s errors,” the official stated.
What You Should Know
In its executive summary of the new pricing structure, NIMC noted that the fee increase was influenced by the need to boost revenue, unify taxes, support social interventions, and introduce new products and services.
“After consulting with all departments and considering inflation at 32.70%, we propose an increase in fees and charges with at least a 20% markup, except for certain services with unique circumstances,” the Commission stated.
NIMC also took into account the fees charged by similar agencies for services like passports and driver’s licenses. The Commission emphasized its commitment to public service, infrastructure maintenance, and self-sustainability.
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