The Senate has invited the Transportation Minister, Idris Umar, chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru and the Chairman of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Osita Chidoka to a public hearing to resolve the controversy over the new driver’s licence and number plates scheme.

Others invited to the public hearing scheduled to start on Tuesday are representatives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Luxurious Bus Owners Association of Nigeria, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria as well as the Directors of Vehicle Inspection Offices (VIO) from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The invitation was issued through the Senate committee on Federal Character and inter-governmental affairs.

The committee Chairman, Dahiru Awaisu Kuta has, however, dismissed insinuations that the proposed public hearing is a witch-hunt.

The Senate and the House of Representatives had earlier directed the FRSC to suspend the issuance of the new vehicle plate numbers and the drivers’ licence until a resolution is reached on the matter.

Last month, the Senate directed the Mr Kuta’s committee to interface with the public on the new scheme due to complaints that the FRSC stepped outside its mandate of protecting lives on Nigerian roads and is being motivated primarily by profit.