FRSC suspends planned enforcement of new number plate

The Federal Road Safety Corps has backtracked on its plan to clamp
down on vehicle owners who have not procured its new number plate and
driving licence by August 1,2014.

The agency said it has not fixed a deadline for a nationwide
enforcement of the new vehicle number plate and driver's license, and
cautioned its commanding officers against clamping down on motorists.

The Lagos State Sector Commander, FRSC, Chidi Nkwonta, had said that
the corps would commence the enforcement in violation of a Federal
High Court order which ruled that the corps had no constitutional
power to compel Nigerians to procure the new number plate and driver's
license.

But the corps in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, stated that it still
stands on its earlier deferment of the enforcement in obedience to a
court order on the matter.

The statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Julius Agwu, said
that the FRSC would continue to abide by the decision of the Joint Tax
Board which suspended the enforcement of the enhanced Motor Vehicle
Number Plate and the Driver's License pending the outcome of the
appeal by the FRSC.

It said, "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 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."

The agency directed its Commanding Officers to defer enforcement in
keeping with the JTB suspension and the court ruling pending the
determination of the appeal.

The corps urged motorists to renew their driver's and vehicle licenses
as they expire in line with extant provisions of the law.