This is to bring to the notice of the general public that the Federal Road Safety Commision (FRSC) is out to milk the Nigerian public with the introduction of a new driver's licence and a new number plate at an outrageous sum of money.This move by the leadership of the FRSC did not come as a surprise to the public it claims to be serving . Nigerians have not been comfortable with the activities of officials of the FRSC on our township roads.They dabble into areas that do not concern them as far as movement of vehicles is concerned; they have neglected their constitutional responsibility of operating along the major highways.Officials of the FRSC are employed to reduce carnage on our highways by controlling the speed limit of drivers, salvaging those involved in accidents along our highwaysand removing them to the hospital for medical attention. Instead of doing the above, they are often found at some spots on the roads requesting for documents of vehicles which is outside their purview.Today, the FRSC has rolled out another instruction to members of the public that it is considering introducing a new driver's licence/new number plate to the public. Here, I would want to believe that the FRSC is a federal par astatal established by law to perform certain functions. The FRSC should take a cue from other government parastarals in this couritry.I would give two classic examples of federal parastatals which did not charge additional kobo for provision of some benefits to the public. Issuance of National Identity cards to the Nigerian public. Every Nigerian was given this National Identity card free of charge.Also, when PHCN wanted to change its meters for new ones, it went from house to house changing the meters without taking a kobo from its customers.It is my considered opinion that the same method should be adopted by Osita Chidoka, the FRSC boss. If the FRSC does not have enough resources to embark on this gigantic project, it should suspend the idea this year and appeal to Mr. President to allocate substantial amount to the budget of the FRSC in the next year's budget in order to be able to carry out the exercise without financial burden on the public.How can an illiterate driver have access to the internet' For an illiterate driver to go through the process of registering online, he will need to employ a knowledgeable person and of course, he has to pay for the job.The teething problem that may crop up as a result of the cumbersome nature of the registeration include somebody clicking on the wrong key instead of the one which will open another page for somebody to key in the driver's licence number on the licence which you want to renew. The process goes further as the page will ask you for your date of birth and you will then click search. It will reveal your detail if you obtained the old licence legally.On the web page, you will fill in the information required and go to where you will get an Accreditation ID on the web page.Then, you will go and pay in the bank. You go to the VIO for the signature of your form. At the VIO's office, you will be given a test to be sure you can drive. On passing the VlO's test, you then will be reqired to move to the FRSC's office for physical capture. If you fail the VlO's test, you will be given another appointment. A temporary licence will be given an applicant to cover him for between 15 and 30 days to configure other security details. The licence then goes to the VlO for distribution.There is no doubt that the process of acquiring the new licence or renewing an old licence is going to be the most cumbersome procedure ever embarked upon by any government agency. For the project to achieve the desired objective, the FRSC should establish on-line internet facilities at various locations in our big towns so that possessing the new driver's licence would be easy. This will reduce middlemen from making quick money from both literate/illiterate applicants.Also, the FRSC should establish more driving schools instead of the existing 324 country- wide. The Federal government's desire to rake in N200 billion annually should not be the primary focus of the scheme.If the FRSC wants to checkmate the rising wave of terrorism in the country, to improve exchange of security information among intelligence operatives, to curb forgery of driver's licence and crime by tying number plates to vehicle owners, the FRSC should endeavour to provide necessary logistics on ground for an easy take-off. It should reduce the likely problems members of the public will face in acquiring/renewing their driver's licence/ number plate.The government should not put the heavy cost on the public, rather it should make money available to the FRSC which will make it easier for the public to obtain/renew their licences without stress. The money charged by FRSC is exhorbitant. If the Federal Government continues to encourage the FRSC on the high cost of obtaining licence/number plate , it should not be surprised if the public resist the move.Commercial drivers who are currently groaning under the extortion of money from them by 'the three cats' (ologbo meta) i.e. Police, FRSC and NURTW, on a daily basis while going about their legitimate duties may throng the streets in protest against the amount charged. Vehicle drivers/commercial drivers may not be willing to pay more than N10,000 for the two documents, including all papers/materials.If dialogue is the antidote to resolution of conflict, then, the Federal Government should as a matter of deliberate policy allow members of the articulate public voice out their different opinions on this volatile/explosive issue.The Lumpen proletariat of Nigeria will become poorer because by the time transport fare is jerked up as a result of increase in the purchase of new licence/number plate by operators of commercial vehicles, removal of subsidy from petrol and increase in electricity tariff, there will be nothing left for the poor to enjoy.If the FRSC embarks on the above unilaterally, it may trigger off riotsamong the disgruntled/unemployed Nigerians as witnessed in some North African countries; Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen to mention a few.Ogunbanjo (MFR), CEO, Minimum Comfort for all Nigerians writes from Ibadan.
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