The House of Representatives has set in motion a sweeping investigation into the issuance and management of driver’s licences in Nigeria, following troubling revelations of alleged financial mismanagement, irregularities, and bureaucratic bottlenecks plaguing the system in the past three years.
This development came after a motion raised on Wednesday during plenary by Hon. Afam Victor Ogene (Labour Party, Anambra), who voiced deep concerns over the murky financial operations underpinning the tripartite collaboration between the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the State Boards of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO)—the bodies jointly responsible for issuing and renewing licences nationwide.
Ogene highlighted what he called a glaring lack of transparency in revenue flows from the driver’s licensing process.
According to him, while the procedure begins with learner’s permits issued by state-level Motor Vehicle Administration Agencies (MVAA), some FRSC VIP Centres—originally designated for renewals—are now issuing new licences without verifying prior learner’s permits, effectively bypassing established protocols.
He also alleged that the FRSC’s Information Processing Centre (IPC) is being used to manipulate licence data and divert revenue that should rightly go to state agencies.
“There are strong claims that the FRSC operates and controls various revenue accounts, including those linked to driving school certifications and international driving history requests,” Ogene stated.
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He further decried the Joint Tax Board’s revised licensing fees—announced in November 2024—which saw prices for vehicle licences rise to N21,000 and N15,000 for five- and three-year durations, respectively, and motorcycle/tricycle licences set at N11,000 and N7,000.
He questioned how these funds are being accounted for and shared among relevant agencies.
Beyond the financial concerns, Ogene pointed to the excruciating delays applicants face—sometimes waiting up to three years for their licences after biometric capture.
He linked these delays to unresolved debts allegedly owed by the FRSC to Galaxy Backbone Ltd and other technical partners overseeing the biometric and data infrastructure.
In light of these issues, the House resolved to launch a comprehensive inquiry into the operational processes and revenue structures involved in the issuance of driver’s licences from 2022 to 2025.
The investigation is expected to span four weeks, with findings to be presented to the House for further legislative action.
The motion received unanimous support, signalling lawmakers’ intent to overhaul the system and restore public confidence in a process many Nigerians have described as opaque and frustrating.