Personalised Plate Costs Questioned

The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial Disrict in the National Assembly , Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has criticized the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) for its plan to still go ahead with new personalised number plates even when the national assembly and Nigerians have spoken against the proposal.

Ojudu also charged the Nigerian journalists to educate Nigerians on the danger inherent in the proposed removal of oil subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The senator, who featured on the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti Council, on a programme tagged ‘Stewardship Forum’ described the FRSC proposition as inimical to the well-being of Nigerians, who are already being entangled by high level of poverty.

He urged the Commission to drop the idea of selling a personalised number plate at about N80,000 under a government that could not pay N18,000 minimum wage.

Speaking against the proposed removal of subsidy from the petroleum products by President Goodluck Jonathan, Ojudu described the step as a ‘suicide mission’, saying it would further impoverish the average Nigerian.

He described the mission as a “struggle between the elite and the rest of Nigerians,” added that he would do everything possible within his power to work against the proposed bill whenever the president presents it on the floor of the Senate and called on his colleagues to follow suit.

“I will definitely vote against it and if Nigerians society decides to go on protest against oil subsidy, I will be one of the leaders who will be at the forefront of that protest.

“I am calling on all of you; my colleagues (journalists) who are going to be one of those to be affected to work assiduously against the removal of oil subsidy.”