The Abia State office of the National Population Commission, NPC, has said that it did not issue falsified birth certificates to civil servants in Abia for verification purposes.
NPC also disowned a report that an unnamed official collected N50,000 from an individual before issuing the person a birth certificate.
A press statement signed by Nwachukwu Ikenna, the Head of Public Affairs of NPC in Abia State, on behalf of the management, the national body, said that its attention was drawn to reports on radio stations where an official of Abia State office of NPC was accused of collecting N50,000 before issuing a birth certificate to an individual.
He further denied the claims that officials were involved in the alleged issuance of falsified birth certificates to Abia State civil servants.
The statement reads in part: “The National Population Commission wish to categorically state that the Commission is not aware of the alleged letter of attestation or date of birth certificate issuance neither does the Commission engage in such fraudulent activities.
“The alleged receiver of such money is not known to the National Population Commission. Any person who has any proof of illegal or fraudulent activities involving any staff of the Commission should come up with verifiable evidence.”
NPC, which avowed that no falsified documents originated from its office, said that it cannot be held responsible for any incorrect, questionable and contestable primary information therein.
“NPC Abia only issues out letters of attestation after the applicant must have presented primary documents as required and stated by the NPC Act,” it stated, stressing that it will not hesitate to deal with any of its staff found to be an accomplice in any fraudulent activities.
Last week, the office of the Abia State Head of Service in Umuahia, raised an alarm, saying that it observed that some civil and public servants in Abia State were allegedly obtaining court affidavits and certificates of births from the National Population Commission.
According to the press statement, signed by the Abia State Head of Service, Ngozi Obioma, the civil servants were allegedly quoting the ages that suited them to falsify their ages.
She warned those involved in the alleged fraudulent activities to desist from it, saying that anyone caught in the act would be summarily dismissed from service.
