Chams Plc, a Nigerian identity management and payment company, and First Bank of Nigeria have entered in to a partnership with Osun State Government.
The collaboration will see the deployment of smart identity cards expected to enhance salary and pension payments to civil servants and retirees in the Nigerian state.
The biometric cards will provide identification and authentication of civil servants and retirees, whilst also serving as credit or ATM cards, household utility pre-payment cards, among other functions.
Rauf Aregbesola, governor of Osun state, suggested the card would help to eliminate sources of financial waste and leakage by workers depriving government of funds.
Aregbesola added that conversely it would assist blocking the possibility of defrauding workers of payments due to them.
"The smart identity card is electronic, and personalised with biometric features, to each of its users.
"It will add immense values to the functioning of workers and will equally improve the capacity and cost of administration by government," he added.
Champs Plc group managing director, Ademola Aladekomo, said the launch of smart identity card for civil servants by the governments was another first in the ICT ecosystem in Nigeria.
Aladekomo noted the identity card also carried e-payment capabilities and could be used as a debit or credit card by holders anywhere in the world.
"Inclusive governance and the use of technology to reduce the high incidence of fraud and wastage often associated with the public sector will further catalyse the growth and development of our national economy," Aladekomo said.
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