Assembly moves to halt indiscriminate use of Govt number plates in Abia

The Abia State House of Assembly has decried the indiscriminate use and duplication of government number plates in the state.

The Assembly mandated the State Government through its relevant agencies to identify unauthorized users of government number plates with a view to retrieving it from them.

This came on the heels of a motion sponsored by the member representing Umuahia North Constituency, Hon Kelechi Onuzuruike, on the need to prohibit the indiscriminate use and duplication of government number plates in the state.

The Assembly also resolved and requested the Executive through the Governor to direct his Special Adviser on Security to mop up all unauthorised government number plates in circulation.

It posited that no private citizen is allowed to use the government authorized number plate, and that any government official on essential duty can get a passage letter from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor.

Speaking earlier during the presentation of the motion on the indiscriminate use of government plate numbers, Hon Onuzuruike explained that plates as a means of identification for government officials.

The lawmaker said, “Government number plates signify the office which the user occupies. It is worrisome to note that some senior government officials duplicate their number plates and issue the same to their aides arbitrarily.

“The official number plates assigned for use on my vehicle are being used by aides to erstwhile Honourable Members”.

He said the situation, if not checked, can lead to impersonation of officials of government in the State.

According to Hon. Onuzuruike, in this critical period where the level of insecurity in the country has worsened, proper identification of persons and vehicles within the State should be of utmost importance to both the people and government of the state.