Every great company uses statistical data to model the attributes of its great employees. In other words, the human resources department is expected to examine data, and arrive at a pattern which shows something like this: CandidateA we hired 3 years ago turned out great, CandidateC turned out great, but CandidateD failed. What are the attributes of those who did well within the 3 years we employed them?

They will start looking at data and the outcome could be any of the following: “they made good grades in school” or “they outperformed in our employment test” or “they were student leaders in college” or “they attended a university with integrated internship” or whatever, understanding that every company is unique.

Possibly, in the future, the company will then design their recruitment process to target similar students who outperformed in the past. They could say “no 3rd class student will be invited to our interview” because most underperform. This does not mean that all 3rd class graduates are going to underperform.

Simply, in a gaussian distribution (yes, statistics, get it), they could have seen that in every hundred graduates, 67 with first class /2.1, three 2.2 and and one  3rd class performed well. Statistically, there is no need to extend invitations to those with 2.2 and 3rd class degrees even though that will cost you about 4 good workers. Why do that? Companies have  limited resources and play to have the best strike rates.

Sure, this is not to say that because Shell did not hire you because you made 2.2,  that Shell will not retain your company in the future as a contractor if you go and start a company. This is not to say that because PwC did not hire you because you made a 3rd class, that the consulting firm will not take up a service if you want to engage them in your business.  That those companies did not hire you does not mean you cannot do any other thing;  they did not hire you because your grade does not track the patterns which have worked for them in the past.

We are all unique, but unfortunately, life works on patterns. At personal levels, that pattern-based model seems discriminatory. However, when you see that companies do not have unlimited resources, you will then understand why they have to use “something” to bring sanity in that recruitment process, and increasingly grades seem to be the factor of choice.  It is not their fault since those who think that the use of grade is not optimal has not provided a better alternative.

The Physics of Recruiting Well-Paid Workers in Nigeria

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will now be required to pay for the newly introduced multipurpose national identity card.

According to Peter Iwegbu, NIMC’s head of card management services, this decision stems from the federal government’s limited revenue, which makes it challenging to fund the production of the cards.

The announcement was made during a two-day press conference in Lagos. Iwegbu explained that charging for the cards aims to ensure that only individuals who truly need them will request them, thereby reducing waste.

“Before we stopped due to funding, we produced more than two million cards, but a lot of them are still in our office because people didn’t need them,” he said.

This move also seeks to address inefficiencies observed in previous attempts to distribute free identity cards, where many remained uncollected.

To make the process more convenient, NIMC is collaborating with banks across the country. Nigerians can visit any participating bank to request and pick up their cards. Additionally, special provisions have been made for less privileged individuals who cannot afford the card but require it for essential government services.

Lanre Yusuf, director of information technology at NIMC, highlighted this effort, stating, “The government has implemented programmes to make the card accessible to less privileged Nigerians who cannot afford it but require it to access government support.”

Features and Expected Launch

The new ID card, described as a “post-paid identity card,” will serve multiple purposes, including identity verification, payments, and access to government services. The card is powered by AfriGO in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System. Yusuf confirmed that sample test cards had already been received, suggesting the card’s readiness for rollout.

The initiative is part of a broader federal government strategy to digitize identification and streamline access to services across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

Concerns Over Potential Apathy

However, there is growing concern that the decision to charge for the cards could lead to public apathy. Some argue that requiring payment could deter many Nigerians, especially those already facing economic hardship, from obtaining the card. This could undermine the government’s goal of broadening access to identification services.

Experts also warn that apathy could mirror the challenges of past distribution efforts, where over two million cards produced for free remained uncollected. Charging for the cards, they say, risks exacerbating this trend, particularly in rural areas where disposable income is limited, and the perceived need for the card may be low.

While NIMC has justified the fees as a necessary response to limited government funding, the policy raises questions about its alignment with inclusivity goals.

To combat potential apathy, experts suggest increasing public awareness of the card’s multipurpose functionality and its benefits, such as facilitating payments and access to government services. These features, they note, could incentivize more people to view the card as an essential tool rather than an optional expense.

While the initiative aims to reduce waste and improve efficiency, the government has been urged to address public skepticism and economic barriers to ensure widespread adoption. How this policy is received will likely set the tone for future reforms in national identification and other public service programs.