The House of Representatives has summoned officials of the National Identification Registry (NIR) to appear before the plenary on Thursday, June 19, 2025, amid mounting public frustration over prolonged delays in the issuance of National ID cards.
The citation comes as Liberians continue to express dissatisfaction with the agency’s inability to promptly deliver ID cards, even after citizens have completed registration and made full payment. The motion to summon the NIR was introduced by Representative Moima Briggs-Mensah of Bong County District #6, who raised serious concerns over the impact of the delays on everyday life, particularly for rural dwellers and vulnerable groups.
According to Rep. Briggs-Mensah, the inefficiency in ID card processing has created significant hardships for Liberians across the country, especially those in remote areas who often travel long distances to registration centers only to face indefinite waiting periods. She noted that government employees and citizens dependent on financial services are increasingly being turned away from banks due to the absence of the required national identification.
Briggs-Mensah also challenged the implications of Executive Order No. 126, which mandates the use of the National ID card for all government-related financial transactions. She argued that the policy is exclusionary and fails to consider the current bottlenecks at the NIR. In her critique, she emphasized that the Liberian passport remains a valid form of identification and should be accepted as an alternative for financial activities, especially given the current challenges with ID card issuance.
During Thursday’s hearing, lawmakers expect the NIR to provide detailed explanations for the delays, identify the root causes, and outline a concrete plan to resolve the backlog. Additionally, the Legislature intends to assess what support or resources the agency might require to improve service delivery.
Representative Briggs-Mensah has called on her colleagues to advocate for policy flexibility, including the recognition of the Liberian passport as a legitimate alternative ID for accessing critical services during this period of administrative strain.
