Minister of Local Government Dominique Habimana has urged local government leaders to prioritise the delivery of quality, timely and accessible civil registration services, stressing that serving citizens is not an act of compassion but a responsibility of public officials.
Minister Habimana made the remarks on Tuesday while launching Civil Registration Week in Nyamagabe District as part of national activities to mark International Civil Registration Day.
Addressing participants at the event, the minister called on local authorities to improve the delivery of civil registration services and ensure that citizens can access them easily and without unnecessary delays.
“Providing citizens with quality and timely services without subjecting them to unnecessary difficulties is not an act of compassion; it is the responsibility of leaders,” He said.
He noted that efficient and timely public services contribute to accelerating development at the individual, district and national levels.
The minister also encouraged citizens to take part in the biometric registration process, including photography and fingerprint collection, to facilitate the issuance of digital identity cards.
“Citizens should make use of the services for taking photographs and registering fingerprints so that they can obtain digital identity cards,” he said.
Nyamagabe District was recognised as the best-performing district in the country in the delivery of civil registration services, recording a score of 95.4%.
Residents who attended the event expressed satisfaction with the way civil registration services are delivered in the district, particularly noting Nyamagabe’s performance in the national assessment.
Some residents said the services have made it easier for them to access the documents and information they need without spending excessive time seeking assistance.
The national commemoration of International Civil Registration Day also marked the beginning of Civil Registration Week, during which various public awareness activities will be conducted.
The activities are aimed at helping citizens understand the importance of civil registration services, encouraging them to use the services and promoting the proper preservation of vital records related to their civil status.
This year’s theme is: “Well-Managed Civil Registration: A Pillar of Quality Services.”
Civil registration covers information and processes relating to key events in a person’s life, including births, marriages, deaths, divorce, annulment of marriage, adoption, recognition of children born to unmarried parents, acknowledgement of a child and guardianship.
Civil Registration Week is expected to provide an opportunity for authorities to further bring services closer to citizens and raise awareness about the importance of registering and properly maintaining information related to their civil status.
