- Canvasses national day for profession
From Idu Jude, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria and indeed members of 10th Assembly, has been challenged on enabling laws that would legalise ‘ Driving profession in Nigeria and also to observe 23rd of November each year as Driver’s Day.
This appeal, was made Thursday in Abuja, by the National President of Drivers welfare club of Nigeria, Monday Elimigbe, while delivering a welcome address on the occasion used to launch into existence ‘Drivers Welfare Union’.
According to the National President, Drivers Welfare Club of Nigeria (DWCN), is a registered organisation with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Ministry of Trade and Investment, solely to pursue the improvement of the welfare and image of Nigerian drivers who have suffered from societal stigma and deprivation as well as unhealthy conditions of service for several years without end.
Worthy of note, is that the body (DWCN) is partnering with many Government agencies including the office of the Special Adviser to the president on Ethics and Value, Federal Road Safety Corps, The Nigerian Police Force, World Health Organisation (WHO), The Directorate of Road Services (VIO) and Local Government Councils in the Federation.
“Our mission is to become a global player in the transport industry. Our core values are focused on driver’s welfare, empowerment, integrity and professionalism, training and firm sanity on the roads. We do not compromise on professionalism and safe driving.
Drivers constitute over 25% of Nigeria working population as well as making them self-employed while contributing over 30% of the nation’s electorate but operates without a befitting Ultra-Modern Motor park and Terminals and welfare packages that make the profession nowadays to be unprofitable and stressful. In most cases, we are harassed and compelled to pay undue levies by Government agencies of various levels”.
“We can authoritatively state here that Drivers contributes over 25% of the nation’s economy and they are the consumer of the nation’s Gas, Oil and Petrol that boost the nation’s wealth yet they are not consider to be part of the social protection program; such program is expected to address their tremendous sufferings.
“We therefore appeal to the military and paramilitary in the state to assist on this crusade of database registration to eradicate unethical behaviour of drivers in the country. We hereby solicit a joint task force of the relevant government agencies on this laudable project. It was for these and other reasons that the DWCN decided to provide a comprehensive group national insurance cover for drivers, and also make arrangements to provide loans to enable those who are interested to purchase vehicles on hire-purchase and pay back at very affordable rates. We have also set-up a cooperative society to handle other issues relating to the welfare of drivers and members of their families.”
Elimigbe said that ensuring that Drivers Data Base [NDDB] will make it easier for the nation to effectively capture the details of all the drivers plying Nigerian roads and effectively articulate their needs to be able to provide for them whenever necessary from state to state.
“The scheme which we are flagging-off today will also help the Federal Government and especially security agencies to track down criminal elements among drivers who are engaged in one-chance projects, kidnapping and car snatching activities among others, and all the drivers in companies are to be captured.
You will agree with me that criminal elements cannot succeed without the cooperation of drivers especially commercial ones and their cooperation in curbing crime will be easily drawn when they know that their bio-data are with security agencies and DWCN marshals, who will soon be deployed after training and retraining to our garages throughout the federation to checkmate crimes and traffic defaulters especially over-loading of vehicles, drunkenness among drivers etc. And also to check-mate touting.”
Also delivering a speech, the Director, FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Dr. Bello Abudul-Lateef, who played Host during the launching, observed that, “drivers are the heartbeat and the vital force that propels our economy. Yet their welfare, their safety and their education have often been relegated to the periphery of our concerns. Today marks a turning point, a moment where we collectively acknowledge the critical role drivers play in the Nations economic development and wellbeing of citizens.”
He said, that the implementation of the National Driver’s computerised Database is a system designed not just for records but for the security of the drivers. He further revealed that such would also serve as a beacon for planning, capacity development and ultimately ensuring that the welfare of ever member of the profession counts.
” The pivotal aim of this database, lies in the provision of a special Health insurance scheme, a safety net that extends it’s reach not only to drivers but also to their families.it is a testament to our commitment to ensure that accident s on duty and various family health issues are not burdens carried alone but shared responsibilities”.
While taking his turn, the FCT Director of road safety operations, of the Federal Road Safety Commission FRSC, Mr Adebowale Adebisi, noted that continued education of drivers is paramount as it equip the drivers with right sense of operations.
He said, that his office on regular bases had organised seminars and workshops to drivers from agencies and private companies.
He also said that the establishment of the Drivers welfare union would ensure that adequate training of drivers adds zest to the agenda to professionalizing the group.