#round 1a’s results were supposed to go up today

[lpsotd]

todays littlest pet shop of the day is … rabbit #1705 !!

[partydesire3-blog]

Grading the Eagles’ 2019 draft picks

The 2019 NFL Draft is over and now it’s time for everyone’s favorite activity: NFL Draft Grades! You may believe that draft grades are completely meaningless and arbitrary at this point, but you’re wrong. This is about grading the process, not just the results.

As a reminder, here’s this year’s Eagles draft class:

1st - No. 22 - Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State

2nd - No. 53 - Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State

2nd - No. 57 - JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford

4th - No. 138 - Shareef Miller, DE, Penn State

5th - No. 167 - Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern

I believe in accounting for transactions made with draft picks when judging a class. So, I also factor these deals into the equation:

The Eagles traded their 2019 third-round (No. 88) for Golden Tate. Tate walked in free agency, which will potentially allow Philly to recoup a fourth-round compensatory pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Eagles traded their 2019 sixth-round compensatory pick (No. 208) for DeSean Jackson and the Buccaneers’ 2020 seventh-round pick.

The Eagles traded the 2019 seventh-round pick (No. 222) they acquired from the Broncos in the Allen Barbre trade to the Bears in September 2018 to acquire Deiondre’ Hall.

The Eagles traded their 2019 seventh-round pick (No. 239) to the Patriots to move up 27 spots in the 2018 NFL Draft and draft Jordan Mailata.

The Eagles traded the 2019 seventh-round pick (No. 246) they acquired from the Patriots to the Colts for defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway.

But enough about trades, let’s get back to this year’s actual selections.

ANDRE DILLARD

This is the pick that will ultimately make or break Philadelphia’s 2019 draft class.

The Eagles called Dillard a top 10 player on their board and they clearly wanted him as they traded up from No. 25 to No. 22 to select him. It’s not hard to see why the Eagles valued Dillard so much. He boasts elite athleticism and realistically has potential to be a very good starting left tackle for the next decade once Jason Peters retires. It’ll be pretty awesome if the Eagles can just plug Dillard in once Peters is gone and not have to worry about that spot again for a long time.

Dillard’s development will be aided by the fact he doesn’t necessarily have to play right away. While he bides his time as a backup, he should greatly benefit from learning from both Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland and Peters himself.

Dillard also provides short-term value. He can be the team’s swing tackle if they’re able to find a suitable Halapoulivaati Vaitai trade. If Big V isn’t traded, he’s a really good fourth tackle to have behind Peters, Lane Johnson, and Dillard. It doesn’t hurt to be so deep at such a critical position, especially with Peters prone to injury and Johnson being one failed PEDs test away from a 32-game suspension.

Protecting Carson Wentz is one of the most important things the Eagles need to do. Drafting Dillard allows the team to better keep No. 11 safe in the long-term.

MILES SANDERS

Eagles fans have been calling for the team to draft a worthwhile running back for years now and they finally obliged with the Sanders selection.

It’s not hard to see how Sanders fits into the offense. He’ll immediately have a role in the team’s running back rotation. Due to his 4.49 speed and ability to make defenders miss, Sanders has the potential to be the lightning to Jordan Howard’s thunder in 2019.

Some have suggested that Sanders might immediately overtake Howard’s role as the 1A in Philly’s rotation. While that’d be nice to see since Howard is a free agent after this year and might not be long for Philly, I don’t agree. Sanders was a liability at times in pass protection in college:

Duce Staley will do his best to work with the 21-year-old Sanders and develop his game. Still, I see Sanders as a rotational player as a rookie before potentially taking over as “the guy” in the rotation in 2020.

Sanders’ potential is intriguing; I’m looking forward to watching him this season. But the Eagles really need him to hit his ceiling for the value of this pick to be worth it. You don’t spend a second-round pick on a running back for him to be merely “solid.”

JJ ARCEGA-WHITESIDE

The value of this pick seems right; it doesn’t feel like the Eagles reached for JJAW here. The question is: was it the best value to be had at this spot? Would the Eagles have been better served to trade down from No. 57 after making their pick at No. 53? There were still a lot of preferable options on the board, including some talented safety prospects.

But alas, JJAW was the selection. Watching him more, it’s hard not to like what you see on film. He’s downright dominant at the catch point. Throw the ball up to him and he’s going to get it (of course, we need to see Wentz more willing to make those trust throws). JJAW doesn’t exactly have the reptuation of a burner but he did reportedly run in the 4.4’s and he’s able to create separation with his route-running.

So, I don’t doubt the talent here. I kind of just question the fit. How much does JJAW contribute this year when Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, and Nelson Agholor are all ahead of him on the depth chart? And how much are the Eagles using a fourth receiver when they’re saying they want to run more 12 personnel with both Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert on the field?

Of course, the JJAW pick isn’t just about this year. He could be a potential Jeffery replacement considering Alshon could be released to save over $10M next year. That’s not to suggest the Eagles should or need to cut Jeffery. I’m just saying the option is there if JJAW proves to be good.

One thing that bothers me about the JJAW pick is that he’s another player who doesn’t really makes things happen with the ball in his hands. His agility testing was bad; he’s not a YAC guy. It was frustrating to watch Eagles skill players fail to make defenders miss in 2018. It’d be nice if they had some guys who were a little more dynamic in that regard.

One of the most intriguing things about the JJAW pick is how the Eagles now have some really big and physical pass catchers. JJAW is 6-2, 225 and plays ever bigger than his size. Then there are these guys:

Alshon Jeffery — 6-3, 218 Zach Ertz — 6-5, 250 Dallas Goedet — 6-4, 260 Mack Hollins — 6-4, 221

The Eagles should be absolutely feasting in the red zone.

SHAREEF MILLER

It’s cool to see the Eagles draft a guy from Philly. But can he actually play?

Not yet. The Eagles didn’t draft Miller to be an immediate difference maker. He’s definitely going to behind Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, and Vinny Curry on the depth chart. Miller would also be behind Chris Long if he returns, though it currently seems like Long won’t be back.

Miller will be competing for playing time with guys like Josh Sweat, Daeshon Hall, and Joe Ostman. The Penn State alumnus might be more of a developmental player for Philly early in his career before becoming a regular member of the pass rush rotation.

It’s always a good thing to invest in pass rushers. Miller’s probably going to take some time before being a meaningful contributor, though.

CLAYTON THORSON

I won’t beat around the bush: I’m not a huge fan of this pick.

I get the “need” for another quarterback with Nate Sudfeld set to be a free agent after this season. But, uh, did they Eagles have to use a fifth-round pick to replace Sudfeld next year? I mean, they got Sudfeld himself off the scrap heap back in 2017.

When I watch Thorson, I do see some Nick Foles in him. He even has the “he just wins!” argument built in given his 36-17 record as a starter, with three bowl game victories.

It’s highly questionable how much those wins really matter, though. And how much of the winning was really attributable to Thorson when he was posting some pretty bad stats? Thorson had the worst adjusted net yards per passing attempt out of 22 quarterback prospects in this year’s class. SB Nation’s Bill Connelly compares Thorson to Daniel Jones ... except without the good games mixed in.

NFL.com’s scouting report for Thorson indicates he has a “chance” to become an average level backup. That’s just not very exciting. Neither is the fact he has an injury history due to a torn ACL in 2018.

Maybe Thorson defies expectation and ends up being better than I’m giving him credit for. The Eagles clearly see something they like in him. But I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be seeing that makes me feel so great about this pick.

(I might consider changing my stance if his name was Thorson Clayton instead.)

OVERALL

This is the second year in a row where the Eagles only ended up making five picks. Per BGN alumnus Jimmy Kempski, that’s tied for the fewest selections in the past two years. That’s both 1) not ideal and 2) weird for a team that has an owner who just said the Eagles believing in drafting in volume because there’s so much luck involved with the draft.

My genuine feeling is that I’m not thrilled by this draft class. I don’t feel like the Eagles hit a home run by any means. At the same time, I don’t feel like the Eagles royally scewed everything up. The Dillard pick was so important that the importance of the rest of the class kind of pales in comparsion.

I’m totally fine with the Eagles investing in the offense as much as they did. That’s the more important side of the ball in today’s NFL. Look no further than the top four offenses all playing in this year’s Conference Championship games.

If the Eagles are going to get back to the Super Bowl, it’s going to be because Carson Wentz leads them there. Philadelphia drafted one player who will be able to protect him from getting hit and two other players who can serve as weapons for him. They even drafted a potential backup for Wentz should he get hurt again.

So, the Eagles’ philosophy seems sound to me. I do have some questions about their execution, though, as I touched on with my individual thoughts of each pick. I’ll give the Eagles a B grade.

Here’s how Eagles fans here at Bleeding Green Nation graded the Eagles’ 2019 draft class. Looks like we’re on the same page:

See below for more grades from around the web.

Philly did the right thing in trading up with the Ravens to take Washington State left tackle Andre Dillard with the 22nd pick—Dillard is an NFL-ready pass-protector, and he’ll learn the run game quickly. And with their two second-round picks, the Eagles took players ready to contribute right away in Penn State running back Miles Sanders and Stanford receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, who will be especially helpful as a contested-catch receiver. But with just five picks, general manager Howie Roseman and his staff did nothing to address obvious needs in the secondary, and that’s a problem in a very deep class that had first- and second-round talent dropping to the third day.

Michael Kist gave his explanation for this grade on the latest episode of Bleeding Green Nation’s podcast. [You can click here to listen.]

The Eagles will go as far as Carson Wentz can take them. To keep him healthy, the Eagles moved up in the first round to secure left tackle Andre Dillard. It’s a shrewd move, but he’ll sit for at least a season behind Jason Peters. It was clear that Philadelphia had to come out with a running back. After skipping on Josh Jacobs in the first round, the Eagles used the No. 53 pick on Miles Sanders of Penn State. He’s a quick back who will make people miss. He’s not much for contact, but he’ll get a nice share of carries for Philadelphia. Wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside gives Wentz a nice jump-ball target. It’s curious that they didn’t address cornerback.

Jeffrey Lurie said at the 2019 owners meetings that the Eagles want to be a “volume” drafting team. Making 10 picks in two years is the exact opposite of that. The Eagles have a need to find as much young, cheap talent as they can get in preparation of a Carson Wentz contract extension, which is going to be huge rock in the salary cap jar. Those young players are found in the draft, and they’re cheap on their rookie contracts for four years. While the Eagles have acquired a number of veterans with their draft picks, and some of them (not Golden Tate) panning out in the short-term, this trend of making a low number picks has to stop in 2020.

Philadelphia had to fill its needs in this draft with just seven total picks. That’s tough. It actually ended up trading out and finished with just five picks. GM Howie Roseman has had a nice offseason by efficiently filling holes with deals for Malik Jackson, Vinny Curry, DeSean Jackson and Jordan Howard. In other words, the Eagles haven’t overspent. That’s important as they get ready to give Carson Wentz a massive contract.

I thought safety might be a target in Round 1 with Malcolm Jenkins entering his age-32 season. The secondary was depleted by injuries in an up-and-down 2018 season. But I also thought offensive tackle made a ton of sense based on where the Eagles were picking (No. 25) and how the board might fall. Stalwart left tackle Jason Peters is 37, and they needed to decide whether Lane Johnson is being an elite right tackle or a good left tackle.

That’s why I wasn’t surprised to see the Eagles make sure to get their guy by trading up three spots and grabbing Andre Dillard at No. 22. He’s a true left tackle and the best pass protector in the class. He’s the heir apparent to Peters. But the trade was also costly for a team with limited capital, as Philly also had to give up fourth- and sixth-round picks. It needed to have a solid Day 2, which included an extra second-round pick from the Ravens as part of the trade to get Lamar Jackson last year.

That’s what the Eagles did. I’m a big fan of both of these second-round picks. Running back Miles Sanders (No. 53) and wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside (No. 57) both made the list of my favorite prospects by position. Sanders, Saquon Barkley’s backup for two years, has limited tread on his tires and can help in the passing game. Arcega-Whiteside could put Nelson Agholor’s future in question -- he’s a red zone threat with solid separation skills. Defensive end Shareef Miller (No. 138), who had 15 tackles for loss last season, fits coordinator Jim Schwartz’s attacking style. And Clayton Thorson (No. 167) can be a decent No. 2 or 3 quarterback behind Wentz.

So, yes, I like what Roseman & Co. did this weekend, but it’s tough to say it’s stellar with just five picks. I do expect Philly to be a playoff team again in 2019.

Kapadia: In some ways, this draft unfolded for the Eagles in surprising fashion. They ended up making just five picks and adding only one defensive player. This comes weeks after Jeffrey Lurie went on record saying that the organization believed in volume drafting — specifically when thinking about how to build around a potentially expensive Carson Wentz. But offensive tackle Andre Dillard slipping to the 20s changed the Eagles’ plan. They saw a high-upside player at a premium position and decided to be aggressive. Overall, the Eagles may get immediate contributions from just one rookie — running back Miles Sanders. JJ Arcega-Whiteside could eventually replace Alshon Jeffery, but if the wide receivers ahead of him are healthy, the rookie figures to be a role player in 2019. The additions on offense in the draft, combined with the moves to get DeSean Jackson and Jordan Howard earlier this offseason, leave Doug Pederson and Wentz with plenty to work with — there’s no excuse for this to not be a top five offense in 2019. This was not the most exciting draft, and I would have liked to see the Eagles end up with more picks, but I specifically like what they did in the first three rounds.

Wulf: If you’ll allow me to take a Rhys Hoskins home run trot, just think about how much better this draft class could look if the Eagles had never surrendered a third-round pick for a certain slot receiver without having a plan for utilizing said slot receiver. Process-wise, the decision to move up to select a player the Eagles considered the draft’s best left tackle was absolutely the right thing to do. Staying patient on Day 2 also made sense, considering their situation, and I’m fond of the Sanders pick. Though the Eagles lack pick volume, they did have three picks in the first two rounds, which is where the vast majority of impact players are selected. The offense is the more important side of the ball and the Eagles have done their work to help that unit both in the short and long term. The defense, especially the defensive line, leaves a little to be desired, but the Eagles still have time to make more patchwork moves there and at linebacker. If you had told Howie Roseman before the draft that the Eagles would only make five picks and that none of their first three picks would have been a defensive lineman, I’m sure he would have been surprised. But securing a potential franchise left tackle probably makes up for it. Given how they entered draft weekend, I’d grade the process as a B+, but I have to ding them once more for Golden Tate.

Second-round RB Miles Sanders could be a rookie of the year dark horse for a team that struggled to fill the position in 2018. First-round LT Andre Dillard and the other second rounder, WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, look like shrewd investments who may not have to start for another year.

Howie Roseman kicked off the Eagles’ draft with a bang, sending Baltimore fourth- and sixth-rounders to leapfrog the tackle-needy Texans for Dillard, easily the top pass protector in the draft. He is 37-year-old Jason Peters’ heir apparent at one of football’s most-valuable positions. Neck and neck with Josh Jacobs for this year’s top running back prospect, Sanders brings true feature back potential to Philly with a far more versatile game than two-down thumper Jordan Howard. I was not as impressed with Arcega-Whiteside’s tape as other observers, but he remains an intriguing size-speed-ball skills specimen after leading the nation in contested-catch conversion rate last year. Thorson threw way too many picks at Northwestern as a game-manager quarterback. Miller adds depth to a front-four rotation where the Eagles emphasize depth in waves. This class isn’t blowing anyone away with only five draftees, but its grade improves when you include pick-swap acquisitions WR DeSean Jackson and DT Hassan Ridgeway.

Day 1:

Easily one of PFF’s favorite pass protectors in this year’s class, former Washington State offensive tackle Andre Dillard had the highest pass-blocking grade of any starting tackle in the country at 91.9 this past season. He earned 90.0-plus pass-blocking grades in each of his past three seasons with the Cougars, as well. Philly hit a home run with this pick at No. 22.

“If he went top-10, I wouldn’t have batted an eye. And this is foresight that you love to see from your GM.” – Pro Football Focus’ Lead Draft Analyst Mike Renner

Day 2:

A former five-star recruit, Penn State’s Miles Sanders sat behind the only running back in the country that could have forced him to sit as long as he did in Saquon Barkley. Sanders is a premier talent with great balance, elusiveness and improving pass-catching ability. Positional value (justly) forced Sanders down to No. 82 on PFF’s board, but as far as running backs go, he’s still one of the best in the class.

Former Stanford wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside, a PFF favorite and first-round talent on the final board, is a steal for Philly at pick No. 57. He’s fantastic in contested-catch situations and in the red zone. He will also surprise many at the next level with his ability to separate on intermediate and deep routes.

Day 3:

Penn State edge defender Shareef Miller brings admirable size (6-foot-4, 254 pounds) and athleticism to the table, but the Penn State alumnus still has a long way to go before he’s a finished product in the NFL. He earned just a 72.8 overall grade and a 71.4 pass-rush grade in 2018.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie made it sound like the Eagles were going stock the cupboard with draft picks this weekend, but for the second straight year, the draft ends, and the Eagles have only five picks. But three of those players — Dillard, Sanders and Arcega-Whiteside — could project as future starters, while Miller could be a solid rotational piece. The Thorson pick can still raise some eyebrows, but it appears to be foresight. The Eagles also flipped a seventh-round pick to the Colts for a young defensive tackle in Hassan Ridgeway.

Getting Andre Dillard at 1.22 was highway robbery. I was stunned he fell -- I think he was the offensive linemen in this class, and a top-6 overall talent. They continued to build up on offense with second-round RB Miles Sanders and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. Arcega-Whiteside provides a sturdy red-zone target for Caron Wentz even if he never develops much beyond that, while Sanders has starter upside. Philly rounded out their shining class with an upside edge rusher in Shareef Miller and a ho-hum career-backup-to-be Clayton Thorson.

Every pick made sense for the Eagles, especially when you look a few years down the road. Andre Dillard is a project for Jeff Stoutland, one of football’s highest-regarded offensive line coaches. The hope is the Washington State product can step in at left tackle next year when 37-year-old future Hall-of-Famer Jason Peters likely retires. Dillard was not asked to execute NFL-style run-blocks much at WSU, and his progress there is crucial because Philadelphia’s offense is predicated on having a schematically diverse ground game. Injuries in the backfield prevented that last year, which is why, even after trading a conditional sixth-round pick for Bears zone-running ace Jordan Howard, the Eagles spent a second-rounder on Miles Sanders, a smooth three-down back who, unlike Howard, has the lateral agility to create his own space. Sanders will contribute right away and probably earn the top role in 2020. At wideout, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside offers the detailed mechanics and steady possession traits to consistently capitalize on opportunities created by Doug Pederson’s two-and three-receiver route combinations. His presence makes it easier to trade Nelson Agholor this year or let him walk next year. Also helping for next year is Shareef Miller, who adds options at defensive end, where veterans Chris Long and/or Vinny Curry might depart. (It’s possible Long could even be gone before this season.)

Jason Peters has had a great NFL career, but he’s 37 years old and his contract is due to expire after next season. Dillard and Lane Johnson will form a great tandem whenever Peters moves on, and giving up a late fourth- and sixth-rounder to trade up for Dillard was more than acceptable to get an elite pass protector. The Eagles decided not to pick Alabama RB Josh Jacobs in the first round, but they got the second-best back in the draft in the second round. Sanders will be an impact back who could see his role grow quickly with Jordan Howard due to become a free agent after the 2019 season. Arcega-Whiteside will be a red-zone stud and general safety valve for Carson Wentz. Miller will offer a strong pass rush for the Eagles despite falling to the end of the fourth round. The Thorson pick made plenty of sense with Wentz coming off injury and Nick Foles gone.

...

GRADE RECAP:

A = 1 A- = 2 B+ = 1 B = 5 B- = 2 C+ = 1 C = 1

Overall average grade: B

Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2019/4/28/18521315/nfl-draft-grades-2019-grading-philadelphia-eagles-picks-andre-dillard-miles-sanders-clayton-thorson

[plms-hockey]

Leafs @ Penguins - Game 30 - Dec.9.17

KEY NARRATIVES

Toronto Maple Leafs ( 18-10-1) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (16-11-3)

Tonight the Leafs will get their first chance of the season to face the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. I'd be remiss if I didn't disclose the soft spot I have for the Penguins. As a relatively new hockey fan, Pittsburgh has been dominant since the first time someone explained what a line change was to me. Evgeni Malkin was the first player I could pick out in a swarm of skaters just by the way he moved. Love them or hate them, there was no better introduction to the sport than Penguins Hockey.

The person who got me into hockey analytics was a diehard Penguins fan. What I'm really saying is that I know someone much more qualified than myself to tell you exactly how Pittsburgh is doing after consecutive Championship runs and almost three years of so much hockey that even Sidney Crosby may have trouble swallowing it:

3 Storylines in 3 Minutes

1. The Stanley Cup Hangover is Real and the Metro Sucks

As we approach the halfway mark of the season, the Pens are sitting on a respectable record of 16-11-3. These 35 points are good enough for… the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The disparity between the divisions is at fault for this. As you can see below, by points, both the Penguins and the Islanders would be chasing second place if they were in the Atlantic.

Basically, the Metro is a clusterf*ck.

The Pens did not do themselves any favors with a few disastrous early season showings (the 10-1 loss to CHI, 7-1 loss to TBL and 7-1 to WPG all spring to mind). While the lopsidedness of these blowouts can be blamed in part on the baffling offseason acquisition of Antti Niemi for a backup goalie, the Pens have had noticeably slow starts and lackadaisical, lopsided possession for extended stretches that was only remedied by well-timed power play goals (sound familiar, Leafs fans?).

Nevertheless, they persisted. And the Pens are finally starting to look more like themselves.

2. Phillip Joseph Kessel, Jr. Is A Back-To-Back Stanley Champion…

…and also the most consistently excellent Pens’ player by a country mile (1.6 country kilometers).

By now, the Kessel trade has been as picked over as the cookie tray at Christmas dinner (seriously, Aunt Mary, no one is going to eat your peanut butter-quinoa balls). The general consensus is that this trade is a rare win-win-win: the Pens got an elite scorer and beloved, awkward meme as a face of the franchise; the Leafs got some exciting young prospects and the first round pick that enabled them to trade for franchise goalie Freddie Andersen; and the city of Toronto got rid of the locus of Steve Simmons’ misguided, hot dog-inspired rage.

This is now the seventh time that Phil has faced his former team, in which Pens have gone 3-3-1. His first points against the Leafs since the trade (1G, 1A), poetically, came in the second-to-last season Leafs’ home game that clinched the Leafs’ playoff spot.

Quietly, Phil the Thrill has been having what is shaping up to be a career season. After slow and inconsistent starts from fellow stars Sid, Geno, and Kris Letang, Phil has been racking up points and is currently at in eighth league-wide points with 35 (14G [4PPG], 21A); he leads the team ahead of Sid’s 31 points (12G,19A) and Geno’s 26 (8G, 18A).

With 3 goals in the last 3 games, Phil has been on a tear. With apologies to John Keats, a thing of beauty is a joy forever; a Phil in the prime of his powers is definitely a beautiful thing.

3. It’s that time of year…when the Penguins start succumbing to injuries

Ahh, December, full of holiday cheer, time with family and loved ones, and the complete and utter collapse of a healthy Pens’ core.

Matt Murray has been week to week on IR since the 11/27 Flyers game, since Jakub Voracek lost an edge and awkwardly pushed Murray’s right leg into the goal post. Justin Schultz was placed on IR with a lower-body injury after a collision with Rick Nash in the 12/6 Rangers game. Schultz has arguably been the Pens’ most consistent defenseman; while the Pens were able to win a Cup last year without their number one defenseman Kris Letang, his return has been…somewhat rockier. In Schultz’s stead, the Pens have called up a freed Frankie Corrado from the WBS Baby Pens, although he is not projected to make the lineup.

Even with the injuries, there are more than enough storylines to keep this game interesting: Speed Team v. Speed Team. Superstar Sidney Crosby v. emerging superstar Auston Matthews. Former Leafs Phil Kessel and Matt Hunwick v. former Pen Ron Hainsey.

This should be a fun one, yinz!

--Laura (@werewolfbrmtzvh)

In the Leafs camp, the lineup remains infuriatingly unchanged. Polak is still holding Carrick's spot and Willy is still in the doghouse after his winning shootout goal against the Flames on Wednesday. Though, I suppose it hasn't been Nylander's offensive play that's been earning him Babcock's ire. While the whole team made some serious mistakes against Calgary, Willy definitely had a couple of slip-ups that didn't earn him any love from a coach with high defensive standards like Babcock.

Implying less trouble in paradise, this lineup (minus Polak's presence ever) does work well on the road and against teams facing depth troubles like the Penguins are this year. If he's on his game, Willy should be able to prove he can at least help keep Pittsburgh's already offensively struggling bottom six off the board.

Some Key Numbers

87 - Sidney Crosby - Center - Captain 71 - Evgeni Malkin - Center 81 - Phil Kessel - Right Wing 58 - Kris Letang - Defenseman

THE HIGHLIGHTS

THE POST GAMEHappy Sunday, everyone. Today's trivia question is as follows: Who is really good at hockey?Sidney Crosby is really good at hockey. Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel can come, too. And damn if Coach Sullivan wasn't trying to give them every opportunity to exercise those skills. Not one of those players was on the ice for less than 22 minutes. Malkin was out for 24.1 minutes which was more than every single Leafs player, including the defensemen, except for constant penalty killer Nikita Zaitsev who had nearly 26 minutes of ice time (Babcock - what are you doing??).Kessel and Malkin were productive in this game but were defensively shakey which put them in a different category than their Captain last night. Simply put, nobody could touch Crosby, even though he only got on the board once. He ended the night with a 5v5 CF% of 96.30. When he was out with the Matthews line, for around 10 minutes of this game, the Leafs were outshot 18-0.While this does speak to Crosby continuing his dominance through his thirties, I don't think this was a pure comparison or evaluation of Auston's current abilities. He's looked a bit off since his injury but, from nothing more than my own speculation, I'm wondering if he might be sick instead of injured. He was out of practice a while back with a "cold" but this is reminding me a lot of when Marner's production dropped off at the end of last year and we later found out he had mono.But who knows. We can only hope he bounces back soon.Unfortunately for the Penguins, Crosby's dominance didn't reflect on the rest of the roster. It was almost as if there were multiple teams playing mini-games of hockey throughout the evening. Below is a matchup chart from HockeyViz.com. Explained fully in this post game, it shows how much time players spent facing opposing skaters, and then breaks down the shot share in each matchup.

Basically, the Crosby line dominated, mostly against the Kadri and Matthews lines. The Malkin line fought head to head with Kadri and Matthews, and then Marner, Bozak, and JvR cleaned house against Penguins depth (and notably the Malkin line when they were out together).Also - not particularly important, but I find it hilarious that Babcock didn't let Polak touch the ice at 5v5 against Crosby.The shot share didn't look good for the Leafs in this one, but it's a good example of a game where you can't judge a game on shots or attempt share in a vacuum because the scoring effects were too aggressive. The Leafs spent only 4 minutes and 55 seconds without a two-goal lead in this game, scoring two goals in the first two minutes of the game. When teams have that kind of lead they always play more conservatively which usually results in significantly fewer shot attempts made as they avoid risky plays.The Leafs ended the night with a CF% of 42.55 at 5v5 which I'm actually comfortable with considering the above. What's surprising is, once again, the Leafs dominated in Expected Goals For. While making significantly fewer attempts on net, the Leafs had a 5v5 xGF% of 74.53. They had about three-fourths of the expected goal share, and once again the shot maps show why. I feel like I've used these in every post-game recently, but I'll quit talking about this when I stop being fascinated by it.

What's interesting about the heat right in front of the net is that it doesn't seem to be one or two skaters who are lighting a fire there and skewing numbers. All three of Toronto's scoring lines have names in this pile more than once, which shows this is a strategic decision and something the whole team has practiced. While there have been quotes from the team that confirm this, it's nice to see it's not just a solid plan, but that they're executing on it as well.On another good note, Mitch Marner and the Bozak line is back. JvR had a goal, Bozak had two and assist, and the Marner had three assists. The Mouse needed a good night like this, as bad luck can often be compounding as confidence gets shaken -- especially for a player who relies on creative plays like Marner. With his poor primary assist luck shaken, now we just have to wait for some goals to start coming, too.Speaking of, while Marner is a known playmaker (passer), there's often call for him to shoot more. While I don't disagree entirely, I think it's slightly overblown and the fact that he only has two goals on the season is due to his unsustainably low shooting percentage, not his shot count. Marner currently has a team worst shooting percentage of 3.4%. League average is currently 9.3, and Mitch should probably be shooting even a little above that. And while he should shoot a bit more, he's actually still shot the seventh most of any Leaf.Finally, while I won't be discussing this much today, I'd be remiss if I didn't note that William Nylander had a career-low 8.7 minutes of ice time last night. It's one thing to put a skilled, young guy on the fourth line to get him going and then play him as needed on other lines and on special teams.This... is not that -- and I'll have a lot more to say about it if Babcock doesn't do something about it tonight against Edmonton. Statistics and visuals courtesy of HockeyViz.com, NaturalStatTrick.com, Corsica.Hockey, Hockey-reference. com, and Hockeystats.ca.

[citizensimpact]

Since 2013 that the new staff have joined the commission, we have been subjected to excessive suffering, which we have endured and had to keep mute. Our problems in this commission are numerous. The problems are hinged on the fact that, since the beginning until few months ago, there was no Union in NIMC and no one to fight for us. Also, there has been nothing to cushion the effect of the very low salary we are being paid. This is because Cooperative societies were banned, likewise the approval to request for loan in the bank.

Apart from all these, the nature of our jobs has given rise to series of health problem we are facing as staff. The Commission is doing nothing about the hazards they put us through daily, even if it means paying us enough to take care of those hazards. People fall sick daily, and keep getting date for surgeries all over the country in our different work stations.

To better explain the health hazards, we wish to itemise it below, for proper understanding.

1a: NIMC is the only commission that does not pay 28 days allowance to fresh employees we have sent requests on several occasions and the management insists on not owing 28days

1b: In the name of creating a bright enrolment center, Bright light from different angles are most times suspended and brought close to our eyes. We spend an average of 8 hours minimum staring at this light and the computer screen. Our retina is constantly damaged and the white light problem gradually sets in. In fact, a medical practitioner once told some of us that many people do not know they are partially blind already. Some older staff jokingly state that none of them are without glasses today. We look into this light all day long, our eyes are destroyed gradually, causing different kinds of eye problems and on the long run could cause cancer.

As some doctors have concluded, if the situation persists, give or take, in a matter of years, our eyes will seize tp function at some point as a result of the exposure.

2: The barcode scanners we use to upload pre-enrolment forms carry laser beams. A perpetual and constant usage of that which would be concentrated on our skin while we hold up the pre enrolment form has been severally said to be bad and will cause cancer over time. The infra red is poisonous.

Also, the usage of the bar code on the pre-enrolment form, reflects into the eyes. This can cause instant partial/ temporary blindness, retina burn and the likes. As research shows, the intensity at which the infra red comes out does not decrease. That is, if I am holding the pre enrolment form in Kaduna, and I move the bar code scanner as far back as Cross River, the beam does not decrease, it goes with the same intensity so, it is pretty much the same.

3: We sit down on the same spot, working for not less than 8 hours everyday. this can cause a permanent back damage, spine damage, cancer, problem for the men in functioning, etc. Many have been complaining of excessive back aches and constant body aches.

4 : Deadly diseases like Hepatitis B can be contacted through body fluid contact. Those we touch, collect form from, who sit near us and sometimes tap on us on the shoulder to get our attention can be giving you a disease that can kill you.

In some centers, we are forced not go on break because we have to enrol. Numerous staff with peptic ulcer and full blown ulcer are littering our offices.

Ordinarily, this work is supposed to be a shift of about 3 hours or 4 maximum. To reduce risks to the eyes, to also guarantee movement to exercise the eyes and legs that have been static during enrolment. In our case, only one person works from 8 to 5 on each system every day. Most times when staff want to go on break, on the orders of the Supervisors, through the State Coordinators, people are told to quickly go and rush their meal and be back in about 5 minutes. Sadly, this is what we go through everyday.

CRIMINALITY:- 1: From our assumption of duty as members of staff, for years now, we have just been promoted instead of 2016, promotion was conducted in 2017 without arrears and no financial implications until Jan 2017. When we started to voice out complaints, we discovered that some older staff have been on the same level for as much as 13 years without promotion, and they keep telling us welcome to the club.

2:- Since we assumed duty for some years ago, our Pensions and Housing funds have not been remitted, yet they keep making deductions for it.

3:- For those who assumed duty in 2013, for no reason, their salaries are reduced every month. they earn so little a salary and o cap it all, many allowances that they are entitled to are not paid, so they earn next to nothing.

Furthermore, we are constantly under pressure to meet a mandate of enrolling a particular amount of Nigerians. We are told that all they want to hear from us are results and not complaints. We are not provided Imprests to carry out our duties. We use our personal internet subscriptions to connect and enrol people, we as staff contribute money to buy fuel in our various centers. When we complain, we are told that others are doing it and producing results so we have no excuse. They have turned us to beggars, we are to tell our applicants to provide fuel if they need national ID card moreover everyone is aware national ID card is free. To crown it all, we are to visit people of high personalities so they can provide resources needed. E.g generating plant, fueling of the generator plus provision of internet subscriptions to help pull their nin, hence, we are indebted to them and have to bend to their ways because they have helped us. This means we must attend to those they refer first, and who knows, they may request the identity of an applicant, where some staff might not be bold enough, nor have moral justification to turn down such a request.

Also, our nursing mothers are made to compulsorily take pregnancy tests before being employed, if they are pregnant, they won’t be employed. The employed females are told they must not be pregnant until after 3 years in the job.

Ordinarily, we are supposed to close 4pm. We are mandated to work an hour over time which makes us close by 5pm. Till date, no over time allowance has been paid to us, other allowances too have been withheld from us. Sources keep telling us that our adjusted salary structure had been approved as far back as 2015, but they have refused to effect it. From surveys from all around the world, our Commission is the least paid amongst others in other countries that do the exact job we do. The National Identity Database is the life wire of the country which is relied upon for almost anything, and the identity and data of a person is as good as the person itself. If the officers are not well paid enough to discourage being enticed by those that might want to pay them to produce one information or the other, it becomes a problem. Not forgetting that the National Identity Database houses the data of all Nigerian citizens from the Number one citizen to the least. It is important to take good care of and pay officers enough to discourage being swayed to compromise or lessen their Integrity.

Like true patriots, we have kept our faith and upheld our integrity. That patience is waning. We are Unhappy, Hurt, Sick and Poor. We need help. We have suffered in silence for so long. We pray our cry is heard this time, and heard for good.

REASONS FOR EXTORTION

However, in numerous centres across the country, NIMC officials have developed the habit of extorting the people, mandating them to pay between N200 and N1,000 for fuel or for lamination, which ordinarily should cost no more than N100. This is caused by the management that refused to fund these centres they kep complaining no funds and the management uses force on the staff with various threatening memos for staff to produce results when centers were not being funded. I could recollect funds are sent quarterly to all the state headquarters and its as little as 150,000naira (One hundred and fifty thousand naira) and you are expected to fund all the local government enrollment centers alongside the state office with that little amount for 4months how do you pay for internet, electricity, fueling, local runnings and other office consumables and still the management wants a 4times enrollment unlike before that we have a 10,000 litres of diesel constantly enrollment was smooth and regular no cases of extortion.

Dozie Chukwu (not real names, to protect him from victimisation), a repentant NIMC official in Anambra State who says, “this is not the kind of livelihood I hoped for,” discusses the practice extensively.

“For a level, Level 8 or 9, that earn N71,000 and 81,000. From that N71,000, he is expected to fund his centre. They don’t give you anything to cushion the effects of the expenses on your budget,” Mr. Chukwu says blandly.

“In the past, we were given N10,000 to N15,000 monthly to run the centres before the advent of Engr Aziz. But for more than a year, if not two, the subventions have stopped. You are supposed to buy fuel for a generator, service it if it gets spoilt, buy paper, buy data to send your work and print it.

“To make things easier, we had to tell the applicants to pay N200 for lamination of the NIN slips; when you’re done, you have some money left — your spoil of war — something to make yourself happy after the stress.

“Then the most annoying part, which I think most people are scared of and will not tell you even if you went round all the centres in Anambra State for example, is that you are expected to remit 30% of whatever you make to the state.

“Now, you collect N200, you laminate the NIN slip; by the time you remit 30% to the centre, then there is nothing to share for the three or four of you at the centre. Therefore, people started increasing the amount of money. That is why you go to some centres, they collect ₦500 while others charge up to N1,000.

“So, because some staff have gotten used to this extra cash, every centre is self-sufficient; everybody is relaxed, nobody is complaining — because at the end of the day you go home with N3,000 or N4,000 in your pocket and you still have money to settle the oga at the top in the state. If you don’t do that, they won’t give you the NIN slip.”

ABUJA PART OF THE EXTORTION SCHEME

When the extortion first started, Mr. Chukwu’s superiors told him the proceeds were used to run the state office; that the state office was no longer getting subventions from Abuja. But even the state offices are now involved in the practice; they make their own money and remit to Abuja.

“The money we’re remitting to the state” has no other use than the “funding of an individual’s pocket,” Mr Chukwu says. It is a practice he has long been fed up with, one he “can’t even admit” to his child that he was once part of.

“Presently, there is a misunderstanding between my colleague and I because I told him we’re stopping this [extortion]; I’m tired. I told him we’re stopping this ‘give me N100 here, give me N200 there’; I’m tired. If you want to effect change, you start from yourself, then you start pushing it forward. When we stopped, he said he would no longer work with me, instead, he would leave the centre,” Mr. Chukwu says, penitence etched in his face.

“If a state submits its report of normal daily registration, I’m not sure Abuja will not be willing to provide any funds because they know that states are extorting applicants. But like I tell most of my colleagues, the day one of them is caught, their superiors will not defend them. That is why we’ve tried to talk to people; let’s stop this extortion. If we don’t have the money to run centres, let’s shut them down.

“But the practice is blossoming because nobody wants to talk. Secondly, no one wants to step out of his/her comfort zone, probably because you have established yourself in a particular centre and you know how much you make in a day. You won’t want to be sent to a new place.

“Personally, I have said it a million and one times: I’m not interested in this kind of money. I want my take home to be something that can sustain me, then I can save up. Most civil servants don’t get the opportunity for this daily extortion, but they receive other allowances that come quarterly or monthly. I have been here for four years, since 2013, and I have never received anything called allowance; I don’t know what it is. I get only my salary and you expect me, as a family man, to survive on that, for that long? It doesn’t work. That is the root of all the problem — no pension, no leave allowance, nothing!”

Asked what he had done to bring these concerns to the notice of the NIMC management, Mr. Chukwu says he is helpless — as are hundreds of other staff who are wary they could be forced to transit from disgruntled employees to ex-employees.

That fear stems from a previous attempt to organise themselves into a union, which was reportedly deviously truncated by NIMC.

Indeed, the management played along, egging them on as they fixed an election date for a union, in conjunction with the Association of Senior Civil Servants, ASSCS. Suddenly, as the election date approached, NIMC struck the shepherd and the sheep were in no time scattered.

“All of a sudden, the whole thing turned upside down,” says Mr. Chukwu regretfully. “You know, we all thought that once the union came, it was the end of most of the anomalies we had been putting up with.

“Suddenly, there were phone calls from Abuja proscribing the election. Before we knew it, the man who was set to emerge union president was transferred out of Anambra to Bayelsa State, without any explanation.

“That was how the agitation for union issue started fading until it finally came to a halt. It became clear to all NIMC staff in the state that if anyone complained, the least punishment would be a transfer out of the state at sudden notice and without relocation allowance.”

MAKING — AND BREAKING — THE LAW

Having paid 30 per cent of his extorted funds to the state — and watched his colleagues do the same, Mr. Chukwu no longer takes the NIMC headquarters seriously when it releases guidelines for operations. Indeed, NIMC outlawed the very act its staff, from the headquarters to state levels, are involved in.

In a document titled: ‘LEGAL AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENT FOR EMPLOYEES, CONSULTANTS, LICENSES, AGENTS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS OF THE COMMISSION & THE GENERAL PUBLIC’, the commission prohibits “all staff, consultants, service providers and security personnel and cleaners” from “collecting money and/or obtaining favours’ for the purpose of providing access to the commission, services of enrolment, card collection, activation or for the purpose of granting/obtaining a contract award”. Quoting “Sections 14, 20 and 21 of the ICPC Act, and Section 10 and 12 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act,” NIMC says the punishment for offenders will be dismissal and a seven-year jail term.

However, in at least three internal memos seen by the ICIR, NIMC encourages its staff to collect “material and financial support from their host state governments, political office holders and other prominent personalities,” and pay such monies “to the dedicated NIMC state account and not to the state coordinator’s account or any individual’s account”. The quoted memo was dated September 7 and released by the General Manager, Operations, signed by Florence Oloruntade; the NIMC DG/CEO was copied.

The ‘Legal and Regulatory’ document also says that “heads of departments, regional and state coordinators, local government and special centre supervisors” who engage in “non-disclosure, diversion of financial aid and or material support to the commission from states, local governments and other persons or organisations without approval from the DG/CEO” will be dismissed in line with Section 13 of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.

The violations of all these provisions are ongoing. For example, at the NIMC centre at Aiyekale in Ibadan, Oyo State, an official, unaware of the presence of the journalist, tells a prospective applicant, who does not have a valid identity card to pay N500.

“Registering normally costs N2,000,” he says. “But because you do not have a valid ID, we will have to generate one for you. That one will cost you N500.”

DEDUCTION WITHOUT PENSION

In another document, titled the ‘NIMC Personnel Policy’, the commission states thus: “To succeed, the system must be secured, have integrity, accessibility, reliability and confidentiality as its core.”

However, in its relationship with staff, it fails to exhibit the afore-listed attributes. One example: NIMC lists pension and leave allowance as one of 20 fringe benefits that its full-time staff are entitled to. But, for at least three years, its staff have received neither.

Despite managing to reportedly scupper the formation of a staff union in Anambra and transferring the potential union president out of the state, NIMC states in its policy document: “In accordance with Nigerian Labour Law, members of staff of the NIMC are free to become members of Trade Unions or may elect not to belong to any Trade Union. Staff members may register and obtain membership in the Union that is appropriate for their role and position at the NIMC.”

Contrary to its claim of “focusing on building a high performing workforce capable of delivering mission for the long term,” NIMC’s offices are anaemic and the conditions of work are triggers for low workforce performance. At the NIMC office at Ibadan North-east, only one of three computers is functioning. One has been moved away from the centre, while the other has been left unattended to in its dysfunctional state. With two of three computers non-functional, it is unsurprising that the air-conditioner is not functioning. Since hot environments impede the smooth functioning of computers, the NIMC officers usually roll up the window blinds. As revealed by pictures taken undercover, only two of the five bulbs in the office are working. Even the generator servicing the office is older than NIMC itself; it’s been in use since 2003!

Now, to the most bizarre of all. NIMC warns its staff against “illegal usage” of the office Internet for “unofficial purposes”. “All internet and email services are provided for professional use only,” it says. “Very limited personal or non-business use is permissible.” Failure to adhere to this warning, it adds, would see the commission “invoke disciplinary measures,” against the culprits.

But the NIMC is only trying to regulate the use of an internet connection that does not exist. So says the enrolment officers who spoke with the ICIR, numbering six in all.

“What internet?” one, based in Enugu State, asks in a derogatory manner. “The connection in question is the VSAT [Very Small Aperture Terminal]. But Internet connectivity with VSAT is so poor that we use resort to our personal phones or dongles to get the job done.”

“We’re the one supplying Internet to NIMC,” adds another, who works in Ogun State. “We’re the one who should be invoking disciplinary measures against NIMC for making us use our personal Internet for official purposes.”

As expected, these inefficiencies, mixed with staff disillusionment, are threatening to derail the targets of the identity card project if proper step is not taken to address this issue, most politicians see this project as a conduit pipe to siphon money.

“Before, if you didn’t meet the security criteria, a centre won’t be set up for you. The lighting must be perfect, there must be an air conditioner or fan to cool the systems. There would be burglary proof structure; you don’t dismantle a system after setting up in a certain way,” Mr. Chukwu recalls.

“But this is not so today. Now, we carry systems in our hands; I’m used to carrying a backpack around with my laptop and keyboard inside. Now, you carry everything on your head; anywhere you see space, even if it lacks the standards, you just perch and use it the way it is.

“Previously, there was something called ‘Source Documents’ which the enrolment officer presents to show the work he has done. But now people register anyhow, anywhere; I think that right now, staff are just doing it for survival. It’s no more about the standards; the job has lost its taste.

“This was not why I signed up for the job in the first place; the quality of the job is not important anymore. I can come here with my system now and just set up. NIMC is not even interested in checking the quality of job again; anything that comes in, they use: wrong fingerprints, wrong NIN and all those stuff.”

Nigeria’s quest for a single, unified database of all its citizens led to the birth of the NIMC Act 2007, which provides for the establishment of the NIMC, empowered to: (i) foster the orderly development of an identity sector in Nigeria; (ii) issue a National Identity Smart Card to every registered person 16 years and above; and (iii) provide a secure means to access the National Identity Database so that an individual can irrefutably assert his/her identity.

Clearly, the first isn’t happening. The identity registration process is in shambles at the majority of the locations where applicants are not being extorted, as admitted by an enrolment officer in Ibadan: “The work environment is very poor; most of our offices don’t look the way a normal office should. Apart from that, we lack chairs for the applicants. People, both aged and young, stand in queues for hours until it is their turn. When the applicants don’t buy fuel for the generator, we can’t work.”

The second function — issuing ID cards to registered persons — isn’t happening as well. Moses Adegboyega, a retired civil servant who registered in Abeokuta in 2014 — three years ago — still hasn’t received his ID card. Okafor Chigozie, a recent graduate of the University of Nigeria, UNN, Nsukka, registered in 2013. Four years on, his ID is not ready. Babawale Olakunle, an alumnus of the University of Ibadan, registered in Ibadan, also in 2013. Like others, he is still awaiting his card. In fact, he says not one ID card has been produced in the whole of Ibadan North-east, where he registered.

“I can confirm to you that no single human being in some of the state offices nation wide has received the ID card from 2013 till date. This is because there is hardly a month when at least one of the five of us didn’t go to their (NIMC) office to complain. Once, when we threatened to foment trouble, other people in the LG begged us, saying no one had been issued a card since 2013.”

SPECIAL CANDIDATES AND SPECIAL CENTRES

While registrants in other parts of Oyo State are in endless wait for their ID cards, a privileged few get theirs — as it usually is with almost every public item in the country. These are the people who register at special centres, such as the University of Ibadan, UI, the University College Hospital, UCH and The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

“I registered in 2014 and I have my ID card already,” says a UI professor who asked not to be named. “They say UI is a special centre. You stand a good chance of getting your card if you register here — same way you won’t experience the electricity problem that dogs registration in other centres.”

In Anambra, the case is not so much about special centres but about ‘special registrants’. Production of cards was halted more than a year ago due to lack of funds, but some persons were not affected.

“The first batch that was produced, the cards were issued for free by MasterCard. And because they were issuing it free, no revenue was coming, so they could not acquire new ones,” Mr. Chukwu explains.

“I know some people who registered in 2013 and 2014, and already have their cards. I have mine, too, but ordinary registrants haven’t got theirs in the last one year — only prominent people.

“I know the governor (Willie Obiano) registered last year, so his card should be ready. His wife registered two years ago; hers should be ready as well. Na normal we-we dem take dey do the cards now.”

While it is true that registrants get their NIN soon after the enrolment, the NIN slip has so far proven an insufficient means of identification.

Abbas Audi, a victim of NIN slip rejection, lodged a complaint with the Facebook account of NIMC, writing on August 23: “Even without the eID Card the NIN slip is widely accepted but why is it that Union Bank in Jalingo (Taraba State) branch still rejects it after the directive given by the apex bank CBN? Pls call them to order because they rejected 1 today 22/8/2017.”

Oke Paul, another complainant, writes on August 19: “First bank PLC reject d NIN slip, pls help us out.”

“It’s 4 years now I did mine in Kano it’s not still ready,” Sadiq Saeed, yet another complainant, wrote to the commission on August 9. “Banks have refused to accept the temporary slip. My first name is Sadiq and surname, Saeed. NIN-19735604837. Tracking ID- S7Y0NYFM80001VA. What’s happening? Can’t I just do a fresh one where other states are collecting theirs in 4 to 6 months?”

TO WHOM LESS IS GIVEN…

When contacted, the communications department of NIMC, said the commission’s challenges are directly linked to inadequate funding.

“Basically, NIMC is an agency of the Federal Government and electricity is a general problem in Nigeria,” says the official, who asked not to be named.

“We are fully dependent on the government for funding. So, our budget from FG is what we work with. Most of our challenges are underlined by funding; that is number one. And our budget is so open for Nigerians to see what NIMC has been getting, and then you can also see what has been allocated to us for electricity and generator.”

He denies the allegation that the NIMC headquarters is a beneficiary of state-level extortion.

“No, that is not true. Even as I’m talking to you right now, anybody who has evidence should bring it forward.

“These things are just allegations. Somebody just told you that; you have not done your own investigation to unravel how the state coordinator gets kickbacks. If you can do that, you will be helping Nigeria too. If you do that investigation on your own and you report to us, we will appreciate it.”

NIMC-Infographics-1Curiously, he admits that some extortion cases had been brought to the notice of the commission.

“There have been one or two cases that we have investigated,” he says. “If we see something like that, we have our own in-house mechanism. We have the special unit at the commission that goes out to investigate all of this, and when the case is beyond us, we hand it over to state security.”

REFRESHMENT MORE IMPORTANT THAN ELECTRICITY

Truly, NIMC has a case for improved funding. When compared with similar biometric-capturing agencies, the gulf in funding is wide. For instance, while the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, which, among others, issues the driver’s licence, got N34.8 billion in 2017, NIMC got N11.6 billion. Whereas FRSC got N30.7 billion in 2016, NIMC got N6.2 billion. While FRSC’s budget over the last seven years is approximately N186 billion, NIMC’s is N78 billion.

Indeed, NIMC cannot be faulted for tying its inefficiency to inadequate funding, but its current spending is questionable.

For example, in 2017, NIMC allocated N12 million to generator fuel. The previous year, the ‘generator fuel’ figure was almost double: N24.7 million. However, the millions of naira did not proportionately trickle down to all the problem centres visited. The special centres were immune from power outage not because NIMC fuelled their generators but because they were sited in locations with their own internal mechanisms for surmounting the electricity challenges. In all, between 2011 and 2017, NIMC has earmarked N311.4 million for fuelling generators!

Make no mistake: refreshment is more important to NIMC than service delivery. In 2017, the commission earmarked N13.5 million for “refreshment”. This is the same year that it separated N12 million for “generator fuel”. Why is the refreshment budget outweighing the fuel budget by a whopping N1.5 million? In all, between 2011 and 2017, NIMC allocated N87.4 million to refreshment!

Elsewhere in its 2017 budget, a massive N17.5 million is for “sitting and honorarium”. Mind you, this figure is the second lowest of the past seven years. In 2011, it was N39.2 million. Between 2011 and 2017, NIMC has spent N183 million on “sitting and honorarium”! Who are the people holding these sittings? And what are the services being rendered by recipients of these honoraria?

FRUSTRATION TEETERING ON THE ‘RED LINE’

Of the hundreds of thousands of disgruntled applicants, many are bombarding NIMC’s Facebook and Twitter accounts with their frustrations. Some of them are going over the edge, sending “hate” messages that perhaps “cross the national red lines.’’

Basu MC writes in early September: “The most stupid commission in de Nigeria space, hate them with [passion], did reg. yrs back bt couldn’t see my card till date.”

Engr Omoaghe writes in August: “I think this NIMC is fake. I did my registration since 19th September, 2013, till now, yet to be released. Poor Management, poor government, poor organization. Fake. (2months ago)

The comments leave no one in doubt that the people are losing it. And that something must be done fast — by the Federal Government and the management of NIMC.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/245053-investigation-extortion-power-outage-staff-apathy-dog-nigerias-national-identity-card-project.html

NIMC ROT – Competent Staff, Poor Staff Welfare, Poor Funding, No Working Tools Since 2013 that the new staff have joined the commission, we have been subjected to excessive suffering, which we have endured and had to keep mute.