The Delta State Government on 13th June, 2016 issued an initiative with the title: “Commencement of Passenger Welfare Scheme in Delta State”. Read the announcement below.

GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
COMMENCEMENT OF PASSENGER WELFARE SCHEME IN DELTA STATE

It is hereby announced for the information of the general public particularly Deltans, that in pursuant of the provisions of the Delta State Law No. 6 of 2002, on the Passenger Welfare Scheme, the State Government has approved Wednesday June 29, 2016, as the date of commencement of the operation of the Scheme in the State.

Accordingly, passengers on intra and inter-state journeys from any part of the State, are expected to pay the sum of N50 (fifty naira) and N100 (one hundred naira) respectively, which shall be used by the Government appointed Consultant to pay the approved benefit of any road accident victim.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Passenger Welfare Scheme was introduced by the State Government, to cater for the safety and welfare of passengers and to ameliorate the suffering of victims of road accident.

Under this scheme, government will ensure that any passenger involved in any road accident is paid his/her entitlement promptly.

By this announcement, the State Government has requested members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), commuters and owners/operators of private motor parks in the State to ensure full compliance to the implementation of this scheme.

Paul Osahor

Director of Information

Why is it that this is the scheme the Delta State Government is bringing to Deltans? Will this help in curbing the root causes of accident across the state? After settling the families of the accident victims, what then? According to statistics, the major causes of road accident are, over speeding and faulty vehicles, among others.
What the govt needs to do

#1. The Federal Road Safety Corps should stop collecting illegal money from helpless citizens and start enforcing traffic rules and regulations.

#2. Drivers should be sensitized on maintaining the speed limit and ensure adequate repairs and/or maintenance of their vehicles before driving.

#3. Trailer drivers, commercial bus drivers, private car owners, government officials and public office holders, security agencies and bullion vans used by banks, should be made to adhere strictly to the driving rules and regulations.

#4. One way driving, wrong parking of cars on highways, etc should be prohibited. Defaulters should be made to face the law no matter your status.

#5. Road safety signs and signals should be repaired or replaced for proper guidance to drivers.

#6. The FRSC staff, police officers and other concerned agencies, should be re-trained in other to discharge their duties effectively.

Respect for human life should be the number one purpose of any state governor and president. The Delta State Government should retract the announcement and ensure that the root cause of accident on the highway is reduced drastically. Traffic rules and regulations should be obeyed by all. Remember, no one is above the law!