By Seedy Jobe
The General Transport Union has welcomed the government’s decision to introduce driver’s licences valid for three years, saying the change brings the licensing system into compliance with the Motor Traffic Act after years of advocacy by the union.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Oct. 6, the union described the decision as an important milestone in its campaign to ensure that licensing practices comply with the law and protect the interests of drivers and transport workers.
The new system is scheduled to take effect Wednesday, Oct. 7, beginning in Banjul and Kanifing before being rolled out to licensing centers across the country. A three-year license will cost D2,550.
The union said its campaign began in September 2022, when it publicly drew attention to Section 27(3) of the Motor Traffic Act, which provides that a driver’s license, other than a provisional license, should remain valid for three years from the date it is issued.
At the time, according to the union, licences were generally issued for one year and expired on Dec. 31 regardless of their issuance date. The GTU argued that the practice was inconsistent with the law.
The union said it continued pressing the issue through correspondence, meetings, consultations, and public awareness campaigns.
During discussions with the government in 2024, the GTU said it was informed that, as an interim measure, licences would be valid for a full year from the date of issuance rather than expiring at the end of the calendar year. The union accepted the temporary arrangement but continued calling for implementation of the three-year provision.
“The government has now announced the introduction of a new driver’s license system, providing for a three-year validity period,” the union said.
Under the rollout schedule, Banjul and Kanifing centers will begin issuing the new licences on Oct. 7, followed by Brikama on Oct. 12, Soma and Farafenni on Oct. 19, and Janjanbureh and Basse on Oct. 22.
The GTU commended the government and relevant institutions for implementing the provision, saying the decision demonstrated the importance of aligning administrative practices with national law.
The union also described the change as evidence of what sustained advocacy and dialogue between workers’ representatives and the government can achieve.
It said it would continue advocating for fairness, transparency, and compliance with the law in the transport sector while monitoring the rollout of the new licensing system and raising any operational challenges with the relevant authorities.
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