July 29, 2014 – The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said it has not fixed a deadline for a nationwide enforcement of the new number plate and driver’s license.
This is coming 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.
But in press statement, FRSC Public Education Officer, Mr. Jonas Agwu said the agency 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:
a. “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.
b. “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”, he stated.
The agency reiterated an earlier directive to 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”, he said in the statement.
