By Golok Nanmwa
Plateau State Government has suspended the activities of Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs, in the state with effect from Monday, September 21, following recent violent attacks and altercations involving VIO personnel and transport operators in Jos.
The suspension, announced by the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Davou Gyang Jatau, followed an emergency meeting with the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, tricycle operators’ associations and other stakeholders, as part of measures to review and restructure VIO operations and prevent further confrontations.
The emergency meeting, chaired by Jatau, brought together senior officials of the ministry, executive members of NURTW and leaders of tricycle operators’ associations.
The meeting condemned the reported attacks and harassment of VIO personnel while carrying out their statutory duties.
Jatau said, “The ministry strongly condemns physical attacks and harassment against VIO personnel discharging their duties.
“Such actions violate constitutional rights and threaten the hard-earned peace in the state capital.
“Transport unions are hereby directed to produce members identified in video evidence assaulting state officers.”
“Those arrested by law enforcement will face full legal prosecution without government intervention.”
The Commissioner said the suspension of VIO activities would allow the ministry to undertake an operational review and restructuring of the directorate.
He said, “The activities of the VIO are suspended with effect from Monday, September 21, to allow for operational review and restructuring.”
Jatau also disclosed that the ministry had established a complaint unit with dedicated telephone numbers which would be made public to enable motorists to report incidents and grievances concerning the conduct of VIO personnel.
He said the measure was aimed at providing motorists with a formal channel to lodge complaints and ensure that grievances arising from VIO operations were properly addressed.”
The Commissioner further disclosed that the ministry had identified serious compliance challenges in the state’s transport sector, including an estimated 80 per cent of vehicles operating without valid documentation.
He said, “The ministry is concerned about the high level of non-compliance in the transport sector, with an estimated 80 per cent of vehicles operating without valid documentation.”
“We are also concerned about the increasing number of underage children operating commercial tricycles and motor vehicles.
“Statutory driving age limits must be enforced immediately.”
Jatau directed the relevant authorities to commence immediate enforcement of the statutory driving age limits, stressing the need to improve safety and compliance across the state’s transport sector.
He also ordered that the ad-hoc emergency meetings held whenever disputes arise between transport operators and VIO personnel be replaced with mandatory monthly engagements between transport unions and the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection.
According to him, the regular meetings would provide a formal platform for the unions and the directorate to address operational grievances before they escalate into confrontation.
He said, “The ad-hoc emergency meetings must give way to mandatory monthly engagements between transport unions and the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection.
“This will provide an avenue for grievances and operational concerns to be addressed through formal channels and prevent unnecessary confrontations.”
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