The Lagos State Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Chidi Nkwonta, had, last week, announced that the corps would begin the enforcement on August 1, basing the decision on the new court judgment by the Federal High Court in Anambra on June 30.
However, in a statement made available to Daily Newswatch by the Public Education Officer of the FRSC Headquarters, Jonas Agwu, in Abuja, the corps reiterated that it has neither fixed a deadline for a nationwide enforcement of the new number plate nor the new driver’s license.
It said that the reaction came on the heels of inundated media reports and on-line publications of a proposed plan by the FRSC to commence a nationwide clamp down on vehicle owners/ motorists from 1st August, 2014 for non-compliance with the directive on the new vehicle number plate and driver’s license.
“For avoidance of doubt, the corps wishes to state that it still stands on the earlier resolve to defer enforcement of the new number plate and driver’s license following the suspension of the 30th June 2014 deadline for a change to the enhanced motor vehicle number plate by the Joint Tax Board which is statutorily mandated to determine road taxes including prices of number plates and driver’s license. The Joint Tax Board is an umbrella body of State Chairmen of Boards of Internal Revenue.
“The Board had decided after its 129th meeting held on 23rd and 24th April, 2014 at the Headquarters of Edo State Internal Revenue Services in Benin that: ‘In the light of the court judgment against the FRSC, the Board decided to suspend the 30th June, 2014 deadline earlier announced for a change to enhanced Motor Vehicle Number Plate and the Driver’s License pending the outcome of the appeal by the FRSC.
“’Also that the States Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Vehicle Inspection Offices (VIOs) have been encouraged to put all necessary logistics in place to improve Motor Vehicle registration and issuance of Driver’s License in order to build a comprehensive database,” the statement explained.
In the light of the above, the corps, however, directed all its Commanding Officers to defer enforcement on the deadline, in keeping with the JTB suspension and the court ruling pending the determination of the appeal.
“Motorists are, however, urged to renew their driver’s and vehicle licenses as they expire in line with extant provisions of the law,” the statement enjoined.
Source: Daily Newswatch
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