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Foreign-based Sierra Leonean lawyer, Eleanor Thompson has called on the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) to make national UD cards free of cost.
Thompson responded to a notice issued by the NCRA on X, emphasizing the importance of providing free ID cards to uphold the right to national identity.
“National ID cards should be free like voter ID cards,” she said on X. “The right to belong & to national identity/citizenship is a fundamental right, just like the right to vote.”
She added that citizenship should not be forced to pay for “proof of that identity/right.”
“To then enforce with state security is extorsive,” Thompson noted.
The lawyer was responding to a public notice which was issued by the NCRA last week. The notice stated that it is mandatory for citizens to have national ID cards by December 30.
“The general public is hereby informed that effective 1st January, 2025,” the notice reads.
It also urged “Heads of State institutions” providing services linked by law to the National Identification Number (NIN) to start enforcing compliance.
The notice highlighted that, starting next year, ID cards will play a crucial role in various important activities, including bank transactions, vehicle registration, recruitment for both public and private positions, NASSIT enrollment, land property registration, and enrollment in universities, among others.
The NCRA emphasized that obtaining ID cards will be mandatory, while clarifying that ECOWAS ID cards will not have the same requirement.
Although many residents have already acquired their ID cards, some have expressed concerns about the associated cost of Le 145, which they find burdensome. Additionally, there have been reports of delays at the NCRA headquarters during the registration process. Some locals believe addressing these issues could enhance accessibility and ensure that more individuals can benefit from the ID card system.
This lawyer is correct. It’s should be free and there’s no law stating it’s compulsory.
In the US you have to pay a fee for State ID.So,I totally disagree with her claim.I live in the US and the Commonwealth State I live in is mandatory to pay for your driver’s license and State ID.
When did you go to the USA? You are trying to fix your heavy burdens on the masses. Why is it that you people are so wicked and meaningless? Things are getting worst and vulnerable every day and people are crying but their cries haven’t been responses to instead killing them with such sufferings everyday. What do stand to gain after dominion leave you in due time?
Living in the misdirection tenure God help us
Yes, in the US we pay for our ID cards and every forms of identifications but it is not mandatory to have one or a deadline is required to have one.
Here is not US, even the NL 145 pricing the 🆔 card they are people that can not afford that amount easily also the time schedule should not be a fixed. Thank you
In fact, the registration of national identification card should not have time limit. It is a process of obtaining going. If every body registered at a goal, what will be the essence of keeping the office open?
Oh salone
Perfectly said
Looking at her objections and confined within our constitution, she is right.
The aforesaid said card is never mandatory.
F
I don’t think the lawyer is citizen of USA. If so, she’ was special to be given her ID Free of charge.
Some of you are just bad agent of the masses, when it’s at the advantage of the government you people compare us with USA but if it’s at the advantage of the masses you will start giving excuses like don’t compare SL to USA they are far ahead of us, they have the largest economy so so on
People are fighting to survive the system,145 Leones is another added burden to the masses.
I have taken mine but l couldn’t take for other family members because they are plenty and l have other financial obligations to subscribe to.
Instead of free let it be reasonable at least below 50 Leones or 20 Leones.
We the masses are yet to get better representation in governance.
Infact even when you have the money to pay for the ID , the process involved, coupled with the poor reception of staffs to customers. The most heart rendering one is the delayance like there wasn’t any registration even if you have your voters ID.
I don’t know about yours but mine was very simple in the place I took it (Makeni). And I received it within the stipulated time
May God bless this lawyer, she’s perfectly correct. The NCRA surposed to register and distribute those ID cards free to all citizens.
The lawyer’s points are in place and even more issues to ponder about this IDCard. The accessibility, cost, right to all citizens and not few, flexibility in obtaining without heaps & mountains of barriers for all eligible citizens to have one at least without sleeplessness nights. The comparisons with the US what about the UK our former colonial master’s ways of obtaining their NI cards? Where in the US, Europe,/UK and other advanced nations have you seen a closure for obtaining an ID card? Well they might as well have a closure date for all birth certificates and passports in this country.
@yeye lawyer. What contribution has his ambulance chasing lawyer done in the development of the country? Nothing. Never paid a cent in tax to Sierra Leone; has no stake or interest or contributions to make in the affairs of the country. Other that having relatives in Sierra Leone, she has no connection to this land. So she should keep her opinions to herself.
The problem with Sierra Leone people, they like free. There’s no country that gives free 🪪 ID. There is the cost of product and the maintenance of staff. In our case, the id agency is run by foreign company. How do you expect them to give you that service for free? In the US if you are ask by the police for id in the case of maybe involved in an accident, and you don’t have it, you go to jail. So as you want to be proud of being a Sierra Leoneans, please pay and get your identity.
Seriously speaking that man so sick
Things are gradually slipping out of hands in Sierra Leone soon they gonna place a price tag on voter’s ID and the law makers would approve it.
We sorry
But I think this advocacy it little bit late;
Because they have been forcing this expensive ID to people for so long now.
And those that everything is okay for them, they’re busy comparing SL to US .
Lek me nor take am 8 o because ar nor able get da excess money dae 8