By DALCY LULUA
MINISTER for Administrative Matters and Member for Popondetta Open, Hon. Richard Masere, announced that his department is developing a policy called the NID Mandatory Act.
Minister Masere emphasized the importance of the Act, highlighting the need to monitor domestic movement.
“This is an important Act, and we have a legal team working to ensure it is user-friendly. This is part of the government’s effort to understand domestic population movements,” Minister Masere explained.
“We are using the word ‘Mandatory’ to ensure it doesn’t infringe on anyone’s rights. If you want to travel from point A to point B, we need to justify who you are and understand why you are traveling.
“People are flooding into Port Moresby, causing the city’s population to explode. We don’t know why they come in, when they come in, or if they are going back.”
He added that the Act will also enable the government to keep track of births and deaths.
Minister Masere highlighted that the government currently recognizes the NID as a project.
“It’s optional; anyone who needs it can get a NID card or a birth certificate,” he said.
“The NID Mandatory Act will reinforce the government’s requirements, ensuring that any child born or any person over the age of 18 is registered under this Act.
“We are working on these measures to strengthen the government system and improve planning.”
Masere further emphasized the importance of knowing the population of specific areas for proper resource, infrastructure, health, and education planning.
“These are important initiatives we are undertaking to ensure we have a reliable system in place,” the Minister added.
He said the Act will strengthen and reinforce the current work being undertaken by the National Civil and Identity Registry through the NID Project.
