What’s all this new drivers’ license talk?
The House of Representatives after a deliberation on a motion sponsored by Hon. Sam Tsokwa, Chairman on Business and Rules Committee, passed a resolution last year suspending further production of the new driver’s licence and number plates, with a resolution mandating its Committee on Road Safety to conduct a public hearing on the necessity and […]
The House of Representatives after a deliberation on a motion sponsored by Hon. Sam Tsokwa, Chairman on Business and Rules Committee, passed a resolution last year suspending further production of the new driver’s licence and number plates, with a resolution mandating its Committee on Road Safety to conduct a public hearing on the necessity and importance of the scheme. As a responsible agency, the FRSC has not only suspended the production of the licences, but prepared itself for the public hearing. At this juncture, it is apposite to avail critics of this laudable project with its numerous benefits. But before then, it is equally necessary to educate such critics that prior to the introduction of this new licensing scheme, it is a well-known fact that criminals have more than one driving licenses, a situation that made it extremely difficult for FRSC to manage and monitor road transport system. But with the new license, the Corps can track vehicles and know as much as possible about drivers.
From all intents and purposes, the new policy is intended to restore the integrity of the Unified Licensing Scheme (ULS) and National Vehicles Identification Scheme (NVLS) initiated by the government in the 1990s. It is also geared towards maintaining a credible database of drivers in the country as well as developing a robust Information and Communication Technology network. This will enable the Corps to track down vehicles in case of theft or robbery and drivers that have violated traffic laws.
In voicing out their criticisms of this new policy, several Nigerians have complained bitterly about the high cost of the new driver’s license and made it appear as if the money is going into the coffers of the FRSC. Far from it! The truth is that the money involved in the new license plate and drivers’ license is not an FRSC affair. It is the responsibility of the Joint Tax Board (JTB). It must be on record also that the FRSC did not fix the price of the new license plate number and drivers’ license but the JTF, which FRSC is not even a member but an observer. Those on the Board consist of Federal Inland Revenue Service; Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission; Ministry of Finance and Board of Internal Revenue Chairman of the 36 states of the federation. They met and reached an agreement on the price tag of the new license and plate numbers. Juxtaposing the new and old number plates, the new plate has the following distinguishing features: while the old plate number does not capture the full database of the motorist, the new one is much more secured, just as it will assist the federal government in national planning because with the new concept, they will know the exact number of vehicles plying the roads.
On the workability of the new scheme, all the fees are to be paid into any Internal Revenue Board account in the respective states as a condition for necessary tests to be conducted on the drivers by the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) before the issuance of the new license. The same VIO were to thereafter forward names of successful applicants to the FRSC for the issuance of the new licenses to qualified Nigerians. Judging from the foregoing, the pertinent question that comes to mind is: where has the FRSC gone wrong to warrant its barbecue in the media?
While one must concede that the resolutions of the House of Representatives and the Senate are part of the legislative powers of oversight of the National Assembly, the real concern is that, if care is not taken, Nigeria may be pushed into a state of confusion that will not only undermine the nation’s safety and security, but make her a laughing stock in the comity of nations. Lest we forget, it was the same National Assembly that created the FRSC with the exclusive powers of enforcement, design and production of the driver’s licences and number plates and to fine traffic offenders, which are ultimately remitted to the Federation account. And as disclosed by the Corps Marshal recently, FRSC remitted as much as N1.4 billion to the Federation account from fines in 2010. There is no doubt that while the initiative of the new licensing system would have resolved the apathy being witnessed in our licensing system, those syndicates that are beneficiaries of the distortions would have been dealt a deadly blow and possibly thrown out of business.
Oche wrote from Abuja