Senate slashes costs of number plates, driver’s licence.

The Senate Committee on Federal Character
and Intergovernmental Affairs has slashed
the price of the new vehicle number plate
and driver’s licence to N8,400 and N4,000
respectively. The reduction is contained in
the report which the committee submitted
to the Senate after its two-day public
hearing on the price of the new number
plate and driver’s licence that was fixed by
the FRSC.
The committee, chaired by Sen. Dahiru Kuta
(PDP-Niger), also said that the suspension
placed on the issuance of the new driver’s
licence and vehicle number plate had been
lifted. It, nonetheless, advised the FRSC to
ensure strict compliance with the price
review.
The Senate at its plenary session on 29
February considered a motion on the
hardship inflicted on citizens because of the
price of the new number plate and driver’s
licence.The Senate described the price as
high and directed the FRSC to suspend the
implementation forthwith.
In the report, the committee conceded that
the new number plate and driver’s licence
was laudable but stressed the need to
reduce the price.
“The Committee recommends that
motorcycle plate number and rider’s licence
should revert to the old rate of N1,500 and
N750 respectively, as the majority of the
motorcyclists are poor.Similarly, the sum of
N8,400 is being recommended as the price
of standard motor vehicle number plate
instead of N15,000, while the price of the
driver’s licence should be reduced from
N6,000 to N4,000.’’
The committee, however, recommended
that FRSC should extend the deadline given
for the procurement of the new number
plate and driver’s licence by another six
months.
“The committee notes that the FRSC has
given a timeframe of September 2011 to
August 2012 for motorists to renew their
licences and number plates. We ask that this
date be extended from August 2012 to
February 2013.’’
It urged the FRSC to embark on massive
enlightenment campaigns to educate the
people on the advantages and other security
details of the new scheme.
The committee, however, called for the
harmonisation of some functions of the
police, the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO)
and FRSC, adding that some overlaps existed
in the activities of the three agencies.
It also directed the VIO to stop its E-coding
scheme and the collection of N2,000 per
vehicle