Senate lacks powers to fix prices for number plates, drivers' license - Mark

[DT]

The Senate today at plenary says it lacks the powers to fix the prices for the new number plates and drivers licenses being produced by the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC.

The Senate while debating on the report by its Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs said it was not the constitutional duties of the lawmakers to fix prices for any such items but can only make recommendations or refer such matters to appropriate government regulatory bodies.

Chairman of the Senate committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta (Niger State), while presenting the committee's report said the committee has fixed new prices for the new number plate and driver's license scheme of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The committee, in its prayers to the Upper chamber, reverted the Motorcycles plate number and driver's license to the old rate of N1,500 and N750 respectively, saying majority of the motorcyclists are peasants. "Similarly, N8,400 has been recommended as the cost for standard Motor Vehicle Plate Number to the end user from the earlier N15,000 and Driver's license from N6,000 to N4,000," the committee recommended.

The committee also recommended the FRSC to call for replacement of Driver's License only at the point of renewal at the expiration to avoid double payment.

The committee described as unrealistic the earlier directive by the FRSC that had earlier given a time frame of September, 2011 to August, 2012 for motorists to renew their licenses and plate numbers due to the legislative intervention.

It approved the extension of time frame by a period of six months of between August, 2012 to February, 2013 and directed the commission to embark on massive orientation, education and enlightenment campaigns to explain to the people the advantages and other security details of the new scheme. Senators disagree

Senate majority leader Abdul Ningi while faulting the committee's price fixing said it was a matter that needed to be addressed only by a price regulatory agency such as the Consumer Protection Council, and wondered why the Council was not captured in the committee's recommendation.

Senate President David Mark while ruling on the matter reiterated his colleagues stand of not being in a position to fix commodity prices.

"Even though we can cut down the price and fix a new one, it can be faulted by the public in the long run. We have to find a way for the price to be reduced, and not necessarily fixing it"

However following the long list of recommended items by the committee, the Senate mandated it to go back and cut down on the recommendations for further review. The Senate is thus asking the committee to:

1.   ONLY recommend a reduction in price

2.   Allow for flexibility of time in obtaining the new licenses and plates numbers as against its recommended 6months time frame

3.   Harmonize the functions of the VIO, FRSC and the Police, so as to avoid duplication of functions

4.   Ensure monitoring of the new price regime.

Daily Trust