President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has, by proclamation, declared Tuesday, September 16, 2025 as “National Identification Day”, to be observed throughout the Republic as a working Holiday.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, the proclamation calls on the National Identification Registry (NIR), relevant government institutions and international organizations concerned to initiate and execute appropriate activities and programs to mark the commemoration of the day.
The Presidential proclamation emphasized three core principles of identity: inclusion, protection and utility, and sought to raise awareness about the estimated 850 million people globally, particularly across Africa, who lack proof of identity, reaffirming the commitment to achieve total inclusion.
According to the proclamation, the three fundamentals in identity (inclusion, protection and utility), enacted into law through legislative assembly in 2011, established the National Identification Registry (NIR), which owns and operates the National Biometric Identification System (NBIS) with 720,000 people currently enrolled.
The proclamation further stated that the government, cognizant of the significance of protecting and promoting the wellbeing of its citizens and foreign residents alike, and improving and strengthening the collection, storage, evaluation and security of information gather to register births, issue passports and other identification documents, declared that every citizen in Liberia shall be required to enroll in the National Biometric Identification System (NBIS) where their identity will be recorded and confirmed by the Government of Liberia as citizens or foreign national.
The proclamation added that the government of the Republic of Liberia believes inclusive identity built on respect for privacy and human rights are essential for economic growth and digital transformation of government.
According to the Presidential proclamation, this year’s celebration of the day will be observed under the global theme, “My Identity, My Umbrella”, and an indoor program commemorating the day will be held at the Paynesville Town Hall commencing at 10:00 a.m.