The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate operational issues related to driver’s licence issuance, revenue generation and usage within the last three years.The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Victor Ogene (APC-Bayelsa) at the plenary on Wednesday.

Moving the motion, Ogene said that a tripartite arrangement between Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), State Boards of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) led to the digital issuance or renewal of a driver’s license. He said that the approving signature on a driver’s licence typically comes from a designated officer at the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) in the state where the licence application originated.He explained that a learner’s permit for driving a vehicle was first issued at a prescribed fee by Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) in the relevant state before the release of a driver’s licence.According to him, FRSC operates a Very Important Person (VIP) centre, ostensibly for the renewal of a driver’s licence, which is reportedly being used for issuing fresh driver’s licences that are not preceded with a learner’s permit.Ogene said that the Joint Tax Board (JTB) reviewed the fees payable for a five-year and three-year driver’s licence to N21,000 and N15,000 respectively for a vehicle, N11,000 and N7,000 respectively for a motorcycle or tricycle since Nov. 1, 2024.“FRSC is alleged to use its Information Processing Centre (IPC) for warehousing data for driver’s licences and shortchange the state Boards of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) in the collection and usage of fees for processing driver’s licences.“Worried that FRSC is reportedly controlling and receiving accounts for drivers’ licence fees, the yearly revenue generated from chargeable fees which amounts to hundreds of billions of naira, is also allegedly unaccounted for by the VIO and various state boards of internal revenue.“Disturbed that the processing of drivers’ licences is unexplainably being delayed for upward of two to three years after the biometric data capturing of applicants.“Also disturbed that the huge debts the FRSC owes Galaxy Backbone Ltd. and other system consultants who are the network providers and maintainers of the biometrics data capturing system are responsible for the system slowdown and the resultant long delay in the issuance of driver’s licences,” he said.Ogene also expressed the need to clearly ascertain which public agency had the legal responsibility of designing, producing and issuing a driver’s licence.In his ruling, Speaker of the House, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen said that the committee, when constituted, would report its findings within four weeks for further legislative action. (NAN)

Mr Lere Olayinka, spokesman to the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says those waiting for the minister’s political downfall will wait endlessly.Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, made the remarks while reacting to comments by former governor of Ebonyi Sam Egwu.

Egwu had in a statement on Tuesday, said that Wike was living on borrowed time, adding that the FCT minister’s influence would soon burn out. Reacting, the spokesman said in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, that those waiting for Wike’s downfall would wait forever.He argued that Wike’s political progress was based on personal hard work, dedication, commitment and most importantly, God’s grace.Olayinka also faulted Egwu’s challenge to Wike to make it possible for the suspended governor of Rivers, Siminalayi Fubara to return to office.He also described allegations that the FCT Minister now exercises the powers of President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly in Rivers as absurd.“This type of statement should not come from a former lawmaker,” he said.The Wike spokesman also dismissed the threats by a faction of the South East leaders of the PDP to withdraw their support for the party.According to him, it was illogical for people who could not deliver anything substantial in terms of votes to the PDP in the 2023 elections to be threatening to withdraw their support for the party.“The PDP constitution is clear as to who is the National Secretary of the party. His name is Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and anyone saying or doing anything contrary is only interested in the collapse of the party.” (NAN)

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has earmarked N418.9 billion for its Secretariat, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) in the N1.78 trillion 2025 proposed statutory budget.Out of the N418.9 billion, N351 billion was set aside for capital expenditure and new projects, said the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, during the budget defence at the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Wike explained that out of the amount, N79. 3 billion was allocated to the Transportation Secretariat with N53 billion set aside for capital expenditure and N27 billion proposed for recurrent expenditure.He added that out of the capital expenditure, N25 billion was for the Abuja Light Rail Project rolling stock and provisions for other phases of the project.He also said that N24 billion was earmarked for Bus Terminals development at Kugbo, Mabushi and Centre Business District.In the education sector, the minister said that N181 billion was allocated to the Education Secretariat, out of which N61 billion was for recurrent expenditure and N120 billion for capital expenditure.The minister said that the N120 billion include N8 billion set aside as Universal Basic Education Board counterpart fund.He further said that a total of N54 billion was earmarked for the Health Secretariat, out of which N20 billion was for capital projects.He added that N34 billion was for recurrent expenditure, of which N1.3 billion was earmarked for Drug Revolving g Fund.“The FCT Administration, through the budget, seeks to complete the upgrading and rehabilitation of FCT hospitals.“This will enhance the capacity of some of our hospitals through the procurement of modern hospital equipment and ambulances,” he said.In the environmental sector, the minister said that the FCT Administration has proposed N22.9 billion for the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).He said that out of the amount, N3.9 was for capital projects while N19 billion was for operations and recurrent expenditure.He explained that the AEPB was charged with the statutory function of ensuring and maintaining a clean and healthy environment for inhabitants of the FCT.He disclosed that the city cleaning contracts require more than N12.3 billion per annum, while the maintenance of the Wupa Sewage Treatment Plant requires about N2.7 billion annually.“We are also reviewing our mode of operations to initiate a more cost-efficient city cleaning strategy in the 2025 fiscal year,” he said.To improve water supply in the FCT, Wike said that a total of N37.4 billion was set aside to enhance water treatment.He added that out of the figure, N7.7 billion was earmarked for water treatment chemicals while N29.4 billion was for FCT Water Board”s personnel, overhead and capital expenditure.“Through the 2025 statutory budget, we shall accelerate the implementation of the Greater Abuja Water Project being executed through a China Exim Bank Loan but for which we are to make counterpart funding provision.“The completion of implementation of the project will extend water supply to about 26 districts and layouts.“Noting the wide gap between current revenue generation in the water sector and its inherent potentials, as well as the need to minimise wastages, we are at advanced stage of exploiting Public Private Partnership for the deployment of pre-paid meters for dispensing of water at points of consumption.“The successful implementation of this initiative will greatly assist in addressing the revenue shortfalls of the Sector,” he assured.Wike further said that N8.3 billion was proposed for the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat to improve agricultural production and engagement of youths in agriculture.This, according to him, will enhance food security, income and better standards of living in the rural communities.“With N4 billion earmarked for capital projects, we shall invest in the provision of agricultural inputs such as improved seeds, agro-chemicals and fertilizer among others and developed cluster farm centers in both the livestock and crop production sub-sectors,” he said.On social development sector, the minister said that a total of N23.7 billion was allocated to promote gender, youths, children development, and other vulnerable groups in the FCT.He added that funds would also go into promotion and preservation of Nigeria’s art and culture within the FCT.The allocation, he added, would also be challenged towards the development of sports, through the provision of sporting, cultural and recreational facilities.He also said that while the FCT Legal Services Secretariat got N7.7 billion, with N5 billion meant for capital expenditure, a total of N1.5 billion was earmarked for Land Department to cover personnel, overhead and capital expenditure.He added that the Area Council Services Secretariat got a total of N37.1 billion towards ensuring effective and efficient service delivery for rural transformation, improving quality of lives of the citizens and strengthening traditional institutions.The minister has earlier explained that out of the N1.78 trillion propose budget, N1.28 trillion was earmarked for capital projects, representing 72.3 per cent, while N494.1 billion was set aside as recurrent expenditure, representing 27.7 per cent. (NAN)