The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the issuance, revenue generation, and utilisation of funds from driver’s licences over the past three years.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Afam Ogene, representing Anambra State, during plenary on Wednesday.
The House noted the existing tripartite arrangement between the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the State Boards of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the Vehicle Inspection Offices (VIO), which jointly oversee the issuance and renewal of driver’s licences.
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The House expressed concern that the FRSC is reportedly in control of the accounts receiving payments for driver’s licence-related fees, including fees from Driving School Certification and Driving History Applications required for international travel. It said the revenue generated annually from these fees, which reportedly runs into hundreds of billions of naira, is allegedly not properly accounted for by the VIO and various state BIRs.
It further noted that the Joint Tax Board (JTB), as of 1 November 2024, approved revised fees for driver’s licences: N21,000 and N15,000 for five-year and three-year licences respectively for motor vehicles, and N11,000 and N7,000 for motorcycles or tricycles over the same durations.
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The House also observed allegations that the FRSC’s Information Processing Centre (IPC), which stores driver’s licence data, is being used to marginalise and potentially shortchange state revenue boards and the VIO in the collection and application of these funds.
The Green Chamber also highlighted the need to clarify which public agency is legally mandated to design, produce, and issue driver’s licences, the House mandated its yet-to-be-named ad-hoc committee to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks.
