REACTION TO THE LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO PRODUCE STATE DRIVERS’ LICENSE The attention of the FRSC has just been drawn to the news of the Lagos State government’s intention to produce “Lagos State Drivers’ license”. This intention has been in the news for several weeks now, with different dimensions on the scheme but we decided not to react on “rumours” or interviews granted to the Press by certain officials of the State Government. However, it is imperative, that the Lagos Sector Command of the Commission formally states its position after the confirmation of the state’s plans by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Professor Bamidele Badejo in a speech delivered on the first year Ministerial Press briefing of Governor Fashola’s administration on Wednesday 16 th April 2008. The Command wishes to educate the Public on the following: . FRSC RESPONSIBILITIES In 1990, the Federal Road Safety Commission was mandated by the Federal Government to establish the National Uniform Driver’s License Scheme to achieve the following:
To achieve these goals Section 10, Sub-section 1, Paragraph (d) of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007, charges the commission with the responsibility of designing and producing the Drivers’ license to be used by various categories of vehicle operators. Section 10 sub-section 1, paragraph (f) gives the FRSC the responsibility of designing and producing vehicle number plates. We shall continue to FULLY discharge our statutory responsibilities. CHALLENGES FACING THE SCHEME However, the scheme witnessed problems from all fronts over the years. The VIOs are not following the prescribed process for the issuance of driver’s license
NON PRODUCTION OF LICENSES IN RECENT TIMES The commission in its renewed vigor to restore the integrity of the Drivers License embarked on a process that will enhance the security of the PVC card which had been undermined as a result of the activities of parallel producers. While working with a reputable firm in the United States for the immediate improvements we are also working with the Security Agencies to bring to book touts and fakers of Drivers’ Licenses. Some arrests have been made and the culprits will soon be dragged to court. For the avoidance of doubt it is pertinent to state that the Drivers License Scheme operates on a tripartite arrangement involving the Commission, the Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIR) and Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) of the States. Production of license is done by FRSC only after certification by the State VIO and payment to the State IRS. Therefore it is important to note that our non release of produced Drivers’ licenses has not in any way affected the revenue of the Lagos State Government as their Agencies kept collecting money from applicants and certifying them before they are directed to the FRSC Information and Processing centers (IPC) for physical capturing of their images, thumb printing and signature by computers. Rather than affecting the State Revenue, the state has capitalized on the arrangement to issue a permit which costs #100 (one hundred naira) and expires after fifteen days to all applicants. The state in its understandable quest for revenue generation has been making more money, as the drivers’ license, through this arrangement costs more. However, the concern of the FRSC is to see that only qualified applicants are eventually issued Drivers’ licenses and not on the revenue. VALIDITY OF THE LICENSE Any license issued by the Lagos State Government will only be valid in Lagos State, not even on federal roads in Lagos, thus anybody who takes the Lagos State License, should also apply for the National Drivers’ license to operate without breaching the laws in all parts of Nigeria. DOUBLE TAXATION If a driver has to be in possession of at least two different Drivers’ Licenses to operate in Lagos, wont that create confusion and also amount to multiple taxation? That also becomes a problem that should be addressed by all stake holders. Is the scheme revenue generation based, rather than safety and security? An answer is required here. RE-CERTIFICATION OF THE NATIONAL DRIVERS’ LICENSE The Lagos State Government has no legal backing to re-certify the National Drivers’ license. All holders of valid National drivers’ licenses, which were in actual fact produced by the collaboration of the state agencies like the Motor-Licensing Authority/Board of Internal Revenue, Vehicle Inspection Offices/Road Traffic Offices and the Federal Road Safety Commission, should resist such an illegal action. POST LICENSE CERTIFICATION OF DRIVERS/RIDERS We are also aware of the moves by the Lagos State Government to compel every licensed driver to attend a Driving Institute and be certified before they can continue to operate in the state. The FRSC’s position on this is in line with the practices all over the world. Attending a driving school is a pre-condition for obtaining a drivers’ license. This is also in agreement with the position of the Joint Tax Board, a board comprising of all states Chairmen of Boards of Internal Revenue ( Lagos inclusive) and the Federal Inland Revenue Services. This Board handles Revenue matters, including issues bothering on licensing of vehicles and drivers in Nigeria. CONFUSION IN THE LICENSING SYSTEM Already, the Lagos State Government has created confusion and undermined National Security in the Vehicle Identification (Number Plates) Scheme in the state. Plate Numbers, earlier produced and sold to Motorists by the FRSC, before Lagos State Government backed out of the scheme, have been replicated due to improper and uncoordinated generation of numbers by the Lagos State Plant using FRSC numbering codes without authority. To worsen the situation the Plant is producing number plates with reserved codes belonging to State Governments and Federal Agencies we have arrested some vehicles using these reserved codes and the unsuspecting owners have made useful statements. The FRSC which has the statutory right for the design, production and maintenance of national database of the vehicle Number Plates is already looking into this and we shall soon revisit the issue. Suffice it to say that ALL the number plates produced so far by the Lagos State ARE not in the national database and no returns of form MVA01 have been made by the Lagos Board of Internal Revenue. DEBT ON DRIVERS’ LICENSE BY LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT The state government has also, through Press statements accused the FRSC of non-performance on drivers’ license issue. It is ironic that a state that owes the Commission over 25million Naira, the highest in the country, could turn around to accuse the Commission of non-performance. If all the states of the federation are owing on the licenses already delivered to them after collection of monies from applicants, the scheme would have collapsed now as it is run on revolving fund arrangement where the state takes #2000 (Two Thousand Naira) out of the #3000 (Three Thousand Naira) licensing fees paid by applicants. The FRSC is left with only #1000 (One Thousand Naira) as production fees. So, the Lagos state government for more than a year has been retaining the total #3000 (Three Thousand Naira) paid for by many drivers’ licenses applicants, while FRSC in discharge of its responsibilities is still producing. ADVICE TO LAGOS STATE AND THE WAY FORWARD The decision of Lagos State to embark on her own driver’s license is considered a potential security threat and risk to the Nigeria nation in the following respects: Ease of acquisition of driver’s license and Revenue generation are being considered over and above safety and security
Rather than creating confusion in the licensing scheme, the state government should step up its pre-licensing conditions, such as testing of drivers and mandatory attendance of driving school to ensure only qualified drivers are recommended to the FRSC to be issued Drivers’ licenses. The state should also collaborate with the FRSC to establish more work-stations where licenses can be obtained easily. Lagos state should also join the Commission and other security agencies in identifying and flushing out touts and forgers which undermine the security of the scheme. The state government should also pay up her debts for the scheme to be better run. It should also be noted, that the last has not been heard on the National Vehicle Identification Scheme. We shall react appropriately in due course. We shall brief the National Headquarters on the development in the state and await further directives. We thank you for your continuous efforts as you partner with the FRSC to evolve better road culture in Lagos state in particular.
FRSC MOVES TO FIGHT OVERLOADING IN THE COUNTRY The menace of the ugly sight of overloading on the Nigerian highways will soon be a thing of the past as the Federal Road safety Commission has put in place the necessary strategy to effectively control and put a stop to incidences of vehicle overloading in the country. Already, the commission has set up a high powered committee to work out a comprehensive programme to check the menace of overloading and tyre blow out which are the most common cause of road traffic accidents. Overloading has been recognized to be very serious safety concern as well as cost concern to the nation as overloaded vehicles threaten road safety and also contribute to many of the fatal accidents on the Nigerian road as it does not only put the driver at risk but also the passengers and other road users. The programme codenamed “Operation Safe Load – Safe Tyre” expected to start from April 2008 will involve an intensive action towards public education and enlightenment throughout the country. It is expected to address the dangers of overloading especially implications on safety. Subsequently, it will be followed by full enforcement to ensure adequate compliance.
|
.gif){kind=spacer}