President Goodluck Jonathan, on Friday, 2  September 2011, launched the new National Drivers’ License and Number Plates. The president said the initiatives represented part of the FRSC’s contribution to his government’s transparency agenda.

There was no doubt that the government stood firmly behind the Osita Chidoka leadership of the FRSC on the matter having been convinced that it would advance the goals of national security and improved road safety.

Speaking at the event, Jonathan had said: “Today’s launch has acquired greater significance following last Friday’s unprovoked attack (the UN House bombing) which led to the loss of lives and has left in its trail gory images of the threat terrorism now poses to the peace and security of our nation and the safety of our citizens.

Since the last bombing episode on October 1, I had directed the hastening of efforts to build a credible database of drivers and vehicles in order to improve public safety. The importance of this project is reaffirmed by the consistent use of vehicles in the conduct of the recent bombing episodes.”

The president went on: “Restoring the integrity of the driver’s license aligns fully with the transformation agenda of this government, it is at the heart of the efforts to alter a culture of recklessness, impunity and lack of consideration for other road users and to transform these negative traits to a positive affirmation of a rule – driven society.”

number plate

Jonathan concluded that with the launch, “a new era has begun with the introduction of the new driver’s license and number plates. The government has invested in technology, people and processes that will not only restore the integrity of the driver’s license but also provide the nation with a credible database of drivers and vehicles.”

The FRSC announced that the transition to the new drivers’ license and number plate is to be completed by August 2012. But opposition began to mount, based mainly on the price of the license and plates. The new drivers’ license is priced at N6,000, while new vehicle number plates start from N15,000, and could go as high as N40,000 depending on vehicle type and category of number plate desired.

Responding to the public outcry, the House of Representatives intervened by asking the FRSC to suspend the implementation of the new scheme. The lower legislative chamber’s order to the FRSC is proving controversial as it raises the question as to whether the House or indeed the National Assembly can give instructions to any agency of the executive arm of government  The legislature has no such powers, and it will  be significantly overreaching its remit to make such orders, says AU Mustapha, a lawyer.

Mustapha said Section 88 of the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to conduct investigation into matters on which it has powers of legislation. But nowhere does the Constitution give it powers to order, direct or instruct agencies of the executive arm of government. The doctrine of separation of powers vests in the president the latitude to direct, instruct and manage all agencies of the executive.

Investigations show that across the country, the new number plates and drivers licenses are being paid for by vehicle owners, despite the House’ order. There are practical issues involved mainly due to the fact that the new policy is actually a collaboration between the state governments and the FRSC.

Payments for the new items are made to the internal revenue boards of the states for whom the FRSC is producing the items. This collaboration took years to negotiate because the states have constitutional rights in these matters, and they are eager to protect their prerogatives in this matter.

The controversy over the House’ order threatens to eclipse the finer qualities of the FRSC policy which promotes security and road safety. The society needs to be sure that anyone holding a drivers’ license has been duly certified as a fit and proper person to drive. The new number plates are tied to the owner, and they have tamper-proof VIT tags, web printed proof of ownership certificate and are backed by investments in IT infrastructure for verification.

The new drivers’ license is only obtainable for new applicants after they have passed a standard driving test. Current holders of drivers’ licenses that can be traced on the FRSC’s database will be exempted from having to do the driving test.

The FRSC, working with the relevant authorities in all 36 states and the FCT, has designed a one-stop shop for the acquisition of the drivers’ license and number plates. This is expected to make the process of acquisition user-friendly and hassle-free.