‘We’re Not A Revenue Generating Agency,’ FRSC Fumes as FG Hikes Vehicle Number Plate, Driving Licence Rates By 50%

 

The Federal Government has commenced the implementation of new rates for vehicle number plates and driving licence across the country.

 

According to the Joint Tax Board, Nigerians will now pay N18,750 for standard private and commercial number plates against the old rate of N12,500.

 

Fancy number plate which was N80,000 is now N200,000; motorcycle number plate is N5,000 from N3,000 while articulated number plates (three plates) attract N30,000 from N20,000. For these rates, the minimum increase is 50 per cent.

 

Out of series number plate has also been revised to N50,000 from N40,000 while government fancy number plate is N20,000 against the former N15,000 rate.

 

Driving licence (three years) was raised to N10,000 from N6,000, excluding bank charges; licence for five years is N15,000 from N10,000 while motorcycle/tricycle driving licence (three years) goes for N5,000 from N3,000 while the one for five years attracts N8,000 from N5,000.

 

The decision was taken at the 147th meeting of the JTB, which held in Kaduna on March 25.

 

A letter by the JTB titled ‘Implementation of the revised rates for vehicles number plates and driver’s licence in Nigeria’, dated July 30, 2021 and signed by the board secretary, Obomeghfe Nana-Aisha, directed various federal and state agencies to commence the implementation of the rates.

 

Members of the JTB established by section 86 (1) of the Personal Income Tax Act cap. P8 LFN 2004, include the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service as the chairman of the board; one member from each state and representatives of the Federal Road Safety Commission; Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission; Federal Capital Territory Administration; Federal Ministry of Finance; and Federal Inland Revenue Service.

 

The letter read, “You may wish to recall that at the 147th meeting of the Joint Tax Board held in Kaduna, Kaduna State on March 25, 2021, the board approved revised rates for the sale of vehicle number plates and driving licence in line with the recommendations of Appraisal and Technical Committee of the JTB.

 

“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to inform you that the Chairman, JTB, has approved Thursday, August 1, 2021, as the commencement date for the implementation of the new rates.”

 

Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said that the agency remained a safety corps and not a revenue generating agency.

 

Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, stated this while dismissing a report circulating on social media that the agency was behind the hike.

 

He also described as incorrect the report that the standard number plate was N55, 000.

 

Kazeem said that it had become necessary for the Corps to serve this as a warning to those circulating the fake news on the  prices of number plates and driver’s license.

 

The Business Bells gathered that there had been a report circulating that FRSC had increased the price of number plates and driver’s license tagging it as a revenue generating agency.

 

The reports stated that registration of New Blue Plate is now 55, 000, registration of New Red Plate 65,000, Registration of New Articulated Plate 100,000.

 

Change of Ownership with New BLUE Plate Number 70,000, change of Ownership with New RED Plate Number 80, 000, Change of Ownership with New Articulated Plate Number 115,000.

 

Transfer of existing Plate Number from One Vehicle to Another 35,000. Replacement of Loss Plate Number 36,000.

 

Fresh issuance of Drivers license 38,000 for five years, 33,000 three years, Renewal 22, 500 for five years and 18,000 for three years.

Kazeem said that the noble mandate of the FRSC was to make the nation’s highway safe for motorists and other road users across the country.

 

According to him, Federal Road Safety Commission was not set up as a revenue generation agency but to ensure the protection of lives and property on the road.

 

He said that the news circulating round that FRSC had increased the prices of number plates and driver’s license was not true.

 

He said “The Price increase is from Joint Tax Board (JTB) and not from FRSC. However, the approved price for articulated vehicle number plate is 30,000.

 

“Motor vehicle driver’s license price for three year is 10,000 while 15,000 is for five years. Standard private and commercial vehicle number place is 18,750 respectively.

 

“Implementation of the revised rates for vehicles number plates and driver’s license in Nigeria commences on Aug. 1 according to Joint Task Board, “ he said.

 

Kazeem solicited the support and cooperation of Journalists especially in publicising the activities of the corps saying that the media needed to verify before reporting.

 

He urged members of the public to note that only the Joint Tax Board (JTB) has the statutory powers to review the prices of the items in question adding that it was the Board that approved the price reviewed.

 

He further appealed to the motoring public to continue to ensure their vehicles were properly registered as it enhances the security of the vehicles.

 

Reports shows that the last review on the prices of number plates and driver’s license was done in 2011.