The Plateau State Government has suspended the activities of Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) across the state from Monday, September 21, following recent attacks and altercations involving VIO personnel and transport operators in Jos.
The suspension was announced by the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Davou Gyang Jatau, after an emergency meeting with the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), tricycle operators’ associations and other stakeholders.
The meeting, which was chaired by Jatau, involved senior officials of the ministry, NURTW executives and leaders of tricycle operators’ associations.
Participants 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.”
According to the commissioner, the suspension would provide an opportunity for the ministry to review and restructure VIO operations in the state, with the aim of preventing further confrontations between officers and transport operators.
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 initiative was designed to provide motorists with a formal channel for lodging complaints and ensure that grievances arising from VIO operations were properly addressed.
The commissioner further disclosed that the ministry had identified significant compliance challenges within 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 subsequently directed relevant authorities to begin immediate enforcement of statutory driving age limits, stressing the need to improve safety and compliance across Plateau State.
He also ordered an end to the practice of holding ad-hoc emergency meetings whenever disputes arise between transport operators and VIO personnel.
Instead, he directed that mandatory monthly engagements be instituted between transport unions and the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection.
According to him, the regular meetings would provide a formal platform for addressing operational grievances before they escalate into confrontations.
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.”
