ABUJA— Senate Committee on Federal Character has slashed prices for new drivers’ licences and vehicle number plates issued by the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, from N6,000 and N15,000 to N4,000 and N8,400 respectively.
The Senator Dahiru Kuta-led committee in its report on the new vehicle number plates and drivers’ licences yet to be submitted to the Senate said the new price regime imposed by the FRSC was exploitative and arbitrary.
It directed the FRSC to forthwith reverse the prices downward in view of the national outcry that the prices are too exorbitant.
Details of the report which is yet to be considered by the Senate also included the lifting of suspension on the issuance of the new licence and vehicle number plates.
The committee also urged the FRSC to adjust the August 2012 deadline for replacement of new number plates by another six month to enable Nigerians acquire the vehicle number plates at the new reduced prices.
The committee in the report also directed the Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja to stop the e-coding of vehicles and collection of N2000 from motorists.
The report further kicked against the overlapping of functions between the Nigeria Police Force, FRSC and VIO, noting that the agencies need to pull their resources together for the safety of lives on Nigerian roads.
Part of the report reads, “Much as people see the new number plate and driver’s license scheme by the FRSC as being laudable, overwhelming majority see the price as being prohibitive.
“The committee recommends that motorcycles plate number and driver’s license should revert to the old rate of N1500 and N750 respectively as the majority of motorcyclists are peasants.
“Similarly, the sum of N8400 is being recommended as the cost for standard vehicle motor plate number to the end users from N15000 and driver’s license from N6000 to N4000.
“That FRSC should call for replacement of driver’s license only at the point of renewal at the expiration to avoid double payment.
“The committee notes that the FRSC has given a time frame of September to August 2012 for motorists to renew their licenses and plate numbers. This is no more realistic in view of the hitherto exorbitant cost of procuring this plate and this senate’s legislative intervention. In view of the laudable nature of the scheme, its positive security details and the above recommended reduction, extension of this time frame by a period of six months is hereby recommended, that is from August 2012 to February 2013.
“That there are overlaps in the activities of the Police, VIO and FRSC. There will be need to harmonize and probably amend some of the extant laws or acts.
“The Senate should advise Joint Tax Board, JTB, to take all necessary steps to stop the activities of touts at the point of sale in order to remove unnecessary increase in price. The sales outlets should be a one stop shop with the actual price boldly displayed and that demand should not exceed supply
“The police should synergies their ideas of biometric data collection and collaboration in terms of data collection with the FRSC who already have existing data base and with whom they have always been relating with before now. The police should forthwith suspend the introduction of BCMR and the N3500 that goes with it.
“The FCT Vehicle and Motor Administration should stop forthwith the E-coding scheme and the collection of N2000 per vehicle. It should collaborate and integrate with the FRSC.”
VANGARDE NEWS
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