NAN-DS-11
Standards
By Harrison Arubu
Abuja, July 6, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Government has advised driving school operators to comply with the Driving School Standardisation Programme (DSSP) to avoid sanctions.
Dr Habibat Lawal, the Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the call in Abuja on Thursday at a workshop organised by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) for driving school operators.
Lawal, who was represented by Dr Roy Ugo, a Permanent Secretary in the office of SGF, said government would not hesitate to “wield the big stick’’ against erring operators.
Cue in audio 1 (Lawal)
“Let me admonish all driving school operators to adhere strictly to the required standards prescribed in the DSSP.
“You must desist from acts that could lead to subversion of the processes and procedures for proper training of learner drivers so that we can eventually achieve better road traffic culture in Nigeria.
“I am aware that 26 schools have had their licences suspended due to non-conformity to standards, while three others had their licences withdrawn.
“I admonish you all to raise the bars in your operations and desist from any act that can earn you sanctions.’’
Cue out audio 1
The acting SGF, whose office supervises the FRSC, said the country was in need of more driving schools and urged investments from individuals and corporate bodies.
Lawal lauded the various initiatives of the corps towards improved road safety in the country, and assured it of government’s commitment to better funding.
In a keynote address, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, stressed the need for driving schools to emphasise safety on the highway in their teachings.
Represented by Mr Sunday Umanah, the Director of Central Workshops Equipment in the ministry, Fashola also emphasised the importance of regulation in the transport sector.
Cue in audio 2 (Fashola)
“Driving schools should reinforce the best practices, such as distraction-free driving tips, to keep all of us alert and safe on the roads.
“Instructions should also provide additional information specific to imbibe value of preservation of the roads and road infrastructure such that the roads and its infrastructure are not overtly or covertly damaged.
“I also urge that driving schools ensure that all learner drivers are kept off the highways as they are expected to be limited to the driving ranges except when accompanied by instructors or licensed drivers.’’
Cue out audio 2
Fashola urged the FRSC to ensure strict administration of the DSSP, and remain committed in its efforts at promoting better use of the nation’s highways.
The minister also commended the development strides of the corps in the adoption of its schemes by international road safety organisations.
Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, said the DSSP was introduced by the Corps to standardise and streamline the operations of driving schools in the country.
Oyeyemi said the FRSC had upgraded the DSSP portal to monitor the activities of driving schools in addition to being the database for driving schools in the country.
Cue in audio 3 (Oyeyemi)
“I must point out here that while the programme progressed, a number of issues cropped which the Corps had to contend with.
“Some of these include improper trainees’ registration, abuse of driving school certificates and issuance processes.
“Others are non-adherence to the 26 hours mandatory sessions for trainees before graduation, hacking into the DSSP Portal.
“Over-enrolment of trainees outside regulation to do so within available resources thereby leading to difficulty in graduating trainees and shifting blame to the corp.
“All of these went a long way to erode the fundamental values which the programme was intended to achieve.
“However, the corps rose to each of these occasions by introducing measures that addressed the situations.
“Some of the measures include upgrade of the DSSP portal to have a mandatory handshake with the Driver’s Licence Portal.
“Thus, eliminating all potential areas of short-circuiting, thus enhancing the credibility of the Driver’s Licences.’’
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Oyeyemi stated that the workshop was part of the corps strategies for continuous monitoring, evaluation and improvement on the implementation of the DSSP.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the one-day annual workshop is the first by the FRSC for driving school operators in the country.(NAN)
ARU/LAB/YEE
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Edited by Lydia Beshel/Emmanuel Yashim