Only NPC can issue birth, death and attestation certificates in Nigeria - Commissioner

Only the National Population Commission (NPC) is empowered constitutionally to issue birth, death and attestation certificates in Nigeria.

The NPC’s Federal Commissioner representing Delta State, Mrs Blessyn Brume-Ataguba, affirmed this on Wednesday in Asaba while speaking with journalists.

According to her, ”As a way of reaching out to the audience, only the NPC has the constitutional mandate to issue birth, death certificates and change of name.

”No other agency has the mandate to do so. It is our constitutional responsibility that you get birth certificates, death certificates and change of name from the NPC.”

She explained that Hmhospitals and other institutions do not have the constitutional rights to issue these certificates, which many Nigerians are not aware of the development.

She further explained that, ”The attestation certificates are issued for those above the age of 17.

”We might even lower that age because of the experiences we are having. But that would come later.

”Only the NPC can issue you with authentic certificates that you need for traveling or any other purpose as the case may be.”

Also, Brume-Ataguba insisted that NPC does not issue certificates at street corners or by unknown individuals.

She said the NPC has various registration centers in the 25 local government areas’ headquarters in Delta.

”Certificates are issued by NPC staff holding NPC identity cards. If in doubt, visit our state office here in Asaba to acquire your certificates, ” she advised.

She urged members of the public to follow the advice to avoid double expenses and waste of time.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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