Right from the educational system to political structure and every aspect of the economy, successive governments have continued to implement needless policies at the expense of the populace whom they claim to serve.
Most of these policies which are initially touted as beneficial usually end up as another waste of public resources and a millstone around the neck of the average Nigerian.
The latest in this series of counterproductive policies is the introduction of new number plates and driver’s license by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). While the idea may be commendable in itself, the mode of implementation is totally unacceptable.
As far as the FRSC is concerned, it makes no difference whether you had a number before or not; the cost is the same across board. Why would you charge someone who already has a registered number plate and drivers’ licence as if they had none at all? This is nothing short of oppression and exploitation.
Worse still, implementing this policy at this time is no guarantee that we will not repeat the process in the near future as time has proven that we usually implement policies before we have successfully developed the appropriate structures to ensure sustainability.
For Nigerians to agree with the FRSC’s purported reasons for this new policy, the financial implications must be properly adjusted such that it can be easily accommodated by the average motorist whose livelihood is just barely above the poverty line.
Any policy that would require the average Nigerian to cough out twenty-five thousand to forty thousand naira in these challenging times is not humane at all. Human right organisations, political unions, opinion leaders, religious bodies and loyal citizens of Nigeria see the policy as draconian, oppressive and fraudulent. It reeks of extortion. While it may be necessary for new cars and new drivers, it’s totally unwarranted and unprofitable for old car owners.
Pastor Caleb Amiola is Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Ife-North Chapter. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I agree totally with the write up, those in power will always look for ways to impoverished the downtrodden. I say thumb down to them. Laskie
ReplyDeleteYou are quite right and objective in your accessment.
ReplyDeleteBut what worries me and by far majority of Nigerians is the high rate of insensitivity disaplayed by the so called government of the day.
Atimes one wonders if those who are not in goverment have committed any crime that warrant being treated as outright enemies.
While those in government has everything in excess and at no cost to them, those outside government has yo pay through their noses even for the minutest of things.
In most cases the ordinary citizens are meant to pay for services not rendered e.g. PHCN bills.
In this instance, citizens are meant to pay service charges of #750.00 monthly this is in addition to whatever PHCN concocts to be the electricity bill for the month, despite the fact that you hardly receive power for ten days in a whole month.
The other day I went to PHCN`s office to recharge my prepaid meter with #2000.00
to my shock the actual unit sold to me was valued at #1156.63.
When queried why this should be, I was told that a monthly fee of #750.00 plus vat must be deducted on a mo.thly bases before charging me for the units.
This is not how to treat bonafide citizens.
yes sir in these challenging times is not humane at all.
ReplyDeleteThe only tin our socal human right organisatoins kw to fight is where dey kw dey wil hav money,may God help us.
ReplyDeleteit is only talk talk what is the solution is not human is this is not that they implement smth and the general public no is not easy to afford that kind of a thing in this country why can those people who has the power to fight in the house of rep, national assembly lawyers voice out i think those things shld be compulsory for those who want to aquire new number plates and new driver license not for those who already have........this talking and talking on paper is not the best pls
ReplyDeleteNigerians should protest and accept such laws on 1 conditions - that if such modifications are made again in the future, the frsc must make refunds wit interest to Nigerians. 4 a failed process
ReplyDeleteNigerians should protest and accept such laws on 1 conditions - that if such modifications are made again in the future, the frsc must make refunds wit interest to Nigerians. 4 a failed process
ReplyDeletei have not read all the comments but i strongly think as a car owner with the old plate number, its another way of robbing the masses. Why not ask everyone to ensure that their plate numbers are clean and visible? Every one that assumes an office in Nigeria, thinks of exploiting those under them. Its only this country that policies and promises have not continuity. Everyone does his own and abandons the previous plans thats why we are still amending constitutions weekly and yet our nation is suffering from bad leaders like these exploiters.
ReplyDeleteNew plate number is not what will stop bombing but the truth about the matter. Our leaders are viral sponsors of terrorism and the government knows them.
Sir, thank u much. Wish they come across dis article. If they could reason aswell.
ReplyDeleteJust who will come to our rescue for God sake. And don't care abt all these kind of write ups. If U̶̲̥̅̊ see d way they laugh it off wen they ar having their fun, they call d masses names eg d monkeys etc. So they don't care Н̲̅Ơ̴̴͡ώ we feel about it so long as their own parents, themselves and their children are products of Harvard University.God please have mercy
ReplyDeleteWe nigerians have always been silent or act independently on issues like these ones. let us come out enmass and protest, let us all refuse to pay for any outrageous bills. Let us reject every policy that will enslave us in own country. On the Issue of the PHCN bills, let all of us refuse to pay the bill after sometimes they will come and beg us. This happened two years ago in Suruelere (Abiodun wright, Muniru Baruwa, Cole and Lawanson area) after 7 months of refusing to pay or talk to them, their earnings from these areas was zero. The marketers in charge were summoned to their office and questioned by the higher boss. Later, the boss and other from Ijora came to meet with us. We didn't yield, later they sent some of their officers from Abuja to come and Investigate. They came and finally agreed to wipe off the outrageous bill and promised to improve on thier services. Since then it was a bit better. But now they have started and we are putting our house in order to fight again.
ReplyDeleteAnd now the Police has come up wt their stupid BCMR. Who knows what other agencies will come up with after now. I foresee a situation where the state Govt will ask people using other state's plate number to register in their state b4 they could be allowed to operate in d state.
ReplyDeleteOn the issue of FRSC let everybody park his or her vehicles at home. let us practise sit at home and allow the FRSC and its government and government paralstatals to collect the numbers and be driving alone on the road. let us just do it for 2 weeks, they will sit up. We don't need to be on the street before we can protest and I know, no police can come and arrest a vehicle that is parked in the house or arrest the owner for not taking the new plate number when the vehicle is not on the road. likewise pedestrians and bicycle riders cannot be forced to collect plate number.
ReplyDeleteWhat i perceive here, is that some people in power wants to make money out of this exercise and they must be resisted.
ReplyDeleteWhat they should have done is that incoming number plates must be the new one and anybody who wants to change his old one should be encourage to do that just with a token.
Now they don't care ....... their calculation now is that if we change this number of plates we will get this much and this amount will go to there and there and this will be for us.......... holy ghost fire.
Nigerians Allah (swt) is our strength and protector.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the so called FRSCN are there to protect your interest?
ReplyDeleteDo you think any government considers your welfare and take your source of income in to consideration?
Rubbish!!!
I they want to change the plate number, it should be free because you had already paid for one before unless your car is new and you want to do the registration for the first time.
I was in Port Harcourt FRSCN for the Drivers license. The woman in charge demanded for an additional sum of N3,000 unless you go away. Can someone tell me if their oga is not aware of this additional charge without receipt?
FRSCN should challenge me perhaps I am telling lies.
Wahala dey for this country.
The new liecense plate numbers are just anothe gimmick to extort money from the Nigerian citizenry. If you look at it, they just added a map of Nigeria and flipped the old plate number around e.g. BT 225 EKY is now EKY 225 BT.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fraud. Our government is just wicked. The PHCN matter is another crazy one. Why should people be charged a monthly fee. Thos meters are mentainance free and it it does become faulty, a component of the energy tarrif is supposed to go for the repairs.
The average Nigerian is like a woman than has been strapped down and raped repeatedly by different men. It's such a shame.
These are all acts to impoverish the average Nigeria. If it were in a country with right thinking leaders, the new plate or License will be given when the old is due for renewal. And not by automaton. Has the govt forgotten that it had collected money for the very one that that has not expired? Is this not fraud? FEDERAL GOVT FRAUD. EFCC SHOULD ARREST THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS NATIONAL FRAUD. If it were in business this is a breach of contract. Or is the fed govt permitted to breach contracts without consequences?
ReplyDeleteMaking life unbearable for the masses is what our government does, may God judge.
ReplyDeletei feel we need to face the government and tell them that their wrong application and approach to issue is killing nigerias and we are dieing gradually such exorbitant fee for renewal
ReplyDeletethe lord God shall change our story in this country soonest
ReplyDeletewhat is your cluless president doing about it? may b pple frm d Niger Delta wl not b affected by the policy.
ReplyDeleteIn river rhine areas and creeks they don't use cars or vehicles and since boats don't hang plate numbers they (most niger deltans) are really not affected!
ReplyDeleteThe issue of number plate and new drivers licence is a misguided development as far as I am concern. The corp martial should have make adequate consultation before introducing things that will generate too much controversy. My concern is that of the drivers licence. How on earth can the processing of a drivers licence take more than Six to eight months to process? Even International passport that is more relevant and internationally valid doesn't take more that one week to produce. The FRSC needs to stop this charade and make things easier for Nigerians. I really don't see Why only one office in Abuja should take the responsibility of producing licence for the whole state in Nigeria of more than 170million people. The NASS and Presidency should call this to order please
ReplyDelete