Delineating the duties of VIO, FRSC
In a swift reaction, the National Chairman of theDirectors/Chief Road traffic Officers of the Federation Reverend Bayo Otuyemi asserted that VIOs have the right to inspect vehicles and drivers’ licenses. He mentioned that the VIOs were sufficiently backed by law to inspect both private and commercial vehicles to ascertain their road worthiness as well test […]
In a swift reaction, the National Chairman of theDirectors/Chief Road traffic Officers of the Federation Reverend Bayo Otuyemi asserted that VIOs have the right to inspect vehicles and drivers’ licenses. He mentioned that the VIOs were sufficiently backed by law to inspect both private and commercial vehicles to ascertain their road worthiness as well test drivers’ competence among other duties. Otuyemi clarified that the function fell under residual matters and as such is not included in either the exclusive or the concurrent legislative list of the 1999 Constitution; implying that only the state Houses of Assembly can legislate on it.
In another separate response to the Corps Marshal, the Deputy Director of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Directorate of Road Traffic Services Alhaji Aminu Iro, argued in an interview with newsmen that motor vehicle administration is principally the duty of VIO, not FRSC. He explained further that the tax laws of the country stipulate that road taxes are payable to state governments. Alhaji Iro affirmed that in the FCT; for instance, it is the FCT Minister that signs the law that empowers them to inspect vehicles; contending that the law which established the FRSC in 1988 specifically defined the organization’s function in the light of reducing motor accidents and ensuring safety on Nigerian roads.
It would be recalled that the FRSC was established in 1988 as an effective response to the search for a solution to the very unpleasant trend of incessant carnages on Nigerian highways. Decree No. 45 of 1988 as amended by Decree No. 35 of 1992 which established FRSC clearly spelt out its functions to include making the highways safe for motorists and other road users; recommending works and devices designed to eliminate or minimize accidents on our roads; educating motorists and members of the public on the proper use of the highways; giving prompt attention and care to accidents victims; conducting researches in to causes of motor accidents and suggesting ways of preventing such.
Given these duties of the FRSC as defined by the law establishing it, the agency’s mandate is, thus, essentially that of road safety administration. Road safety administration is a job that is clearly different from VIO’s motor vehicle administration which technically involves vehicle inspection to ensure its road worthiness, conducting driving test for the issuance of drivers’ license, and checking vehicle particulars to ensure that motorists do not evade the payment of road taxes respectively due to the 36 states of the federation and the FCT through vehicle licensing and other road charges. However, FRSCs undue drive for revenue generation has significantly diverted its attention from the statutory mandate of ensuring safety on Nigerian roads; giving little attention to the prevention of accidents on the nation’s highways.
Nigerian highways have in recent times become chaotic as the FRSC; the police, the highway patrol, and even the traffic warder on the street each attempt to do the job that is statutorily the responsibility of the VIO. We therefore call on the FRSC to confine its activities to the mandate of the law establishing it. The FRSC should as required by its mandate, focus more on safety issues including initiating strategies for accident prevention on our roads; expanding its rescue operations capacity; and intensifying public enlightenment campaigns on road safety matters.
Government is advised to end this long standing rift between the FRSC and the VIO over motor vehicle administration matters by clearly issuing a public statement that delineates between the duties of each agency.