Two Bills pending before the House of Representatives, if passed into law, would duplicate functions of the National Food and Drug Administration Control, NAFDAC, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC and the Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO.
The Bills sponsored by different lawmakers and exclusively obtained by LEADERSHIP SUNDAY are entitled: “A Bill for An Act to Establish the Food Safety Service Commission
Charged with the Responsibility for among other Things Preventing of, Fighting against Food and Water Borne Disease in Nigeria and Federal Capital Territory Road Traffic Management and Motor Vehicle Administration”.
The proposed Food Safety Commission law, states in part on functions, that “The Commission shall collaborate with other relevant establishments to set food standards from production to consumption to protect the health of food consumers and ensure fair practices in food trade”.
It adds that the proposed commission, will “undertake appropriate investigations into the food premises, including drinking water, food markets, diaries, slaughter houses or abbatoirs; undertake inspection of food premises, food markets, diaries, slaughter houses or water supply and distribution”, and so forth.
This Bill apes part of the functions of NAFDAC, whose mandate is basically to ensure Nigerians eat healthy food and use healthy drugs.
If this Bill becomes law, then NAFDAC may be forced to relinquish the aspect of food administration to the new agency or the new body may have to duplicate the functions of the NAFDAC.
The other one that seeks an independent replica of FRSC for the FCT Administration is titled: A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Capital Territory Directorate of Road Traffic Services and for Other Matters Related Therewith”.
This bill also seeks to empower the FCTA to regulate vehicles in the territory and ensure safety and issue vehicle licenses.
These functions are already being carried out by the FRSC and VIO. The VIO and FRSC are already empowered to register vehicles and produce number plates for all vehicles among other functions in the Country.
The new Bill states that the proposed new FCT Road Traffic Administration, shall: “Design Produce and administer vehicle identification number plates; Design, produce and administer the drivers license to be used by all categories of vehicle operators.
“Register motor vehicles, issue and renew vehicle licenses, change of ownership, change of category and all other permits for commercial and private vehicles”.
The Bill adds that: the new agency, will also “Issue a certificate of title of a motor vehicle in the prescribed form to any applicant whose name appears on the vehicle registration form and who provides evidence of ownership in respect of the vehicle.
“Demand and obtain a form of assignment of title by the registered owner of a motor vehicle in the event of transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle. Register, license, regulate and control the operation of motor vehicle dealers, motor vehicle spare parts dealers, motor vehicle repair shops, commercial vehicle operators and mechanics”.