FRSC to realign operations with Presidential Executive Order

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is to reorganise its operations for better transparency and efficiency in line with the recently signed Presidential Executive Orders.
Its Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, said this at a strategic session with Zonal Commanding Officers of the FRSC at its headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
The three Executive Orders, signed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, on May 18, are aimed at easing government’s business and operations to enhance the country’s economic activities.
Oyeyemi said the FRSC had a critical role to play in the implementation of the Orders given its status as the country’s lead agency in road traffic administration and safety management.
He said; “the Executive Order has made it imperative that FRSC aligns its operations for effective and efficient service delivery through re-orientation of all segments of the corps.
“Accordingly, this session will be devoted to identification of areas requiring alignment to the Executive Order in the nation’s continuous search for excellence in all fields of endeavours.
“We must strive to ensure that our processes and procedures are continually built in oerder to maintain a deserved leadership role in Road safety in Africa.
“There is no area in which suitable development is more important than this Executive Order in terms of human welfare that is transportation.’’
Oyeyemi said the goal of the FRSC under the Order was to ensure free and safe movement of goods and services, including farm produce to their destinations.
He added that the Corps would display its services, including the process of obtaining and renewing driver’s licence at its formations nationwide in line with the Executive Order 001.
The Special Guest of Honour and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah, urged officers and men of the Corps to take the Executive Orders seriously.
Enelamah, represented by the Director of Inspectorate in his ministry, Mr Battah Ndirpaya, took the FRSC officials through the contents of the Executive Orders, whose implementation had begun,
“The first requirement under transparency is that all MDAs shall publish a complete list of all fees, timelines, conditions and requirements for obtaining permits, licenses and approvals.
“The head of MDA must ensure that the list is verified and kept up to date at all times. If there is conflict between a published list and an unpublished list, the published list shall prevail.
“So, you cannot hide anything any longer. All information must be given to the public and the public must know,’’ he said.
The minister said that Order 001 required all MDAs to set timelines for approval or rejection of applications from members of the public.
Enelamah explained that an applicant not approved or rejected by an agency or official within the agency’s specified timeline shall be assumed to have been approved.
“The applicant whose application is deemed granted may apply to the minister in charge to issue a document or certificate as evidence of the grant within 14 days of the lapse of the dateline.
“What happens here is if they come here for their driver’s licence after the expiration of the date set by you, and they did not get it, they will go to the Secretary to the Government of Federation to demand for the licence.
“How does that portray the Corps Marshal Failure? When you are putting your timelines, you must be sure you will be able to meet it.
“If not the tendency is that you will shoot yourself in the foot and the whole agency blacklisted.’’
He also warned that failure by desk officers to act on application within stipulated time without lawful excuse would amount to misconduct and disciplinary actions would be taken.