Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has commissioned 500 newly recruited personnel of the Oyo State Road Management Agency (OYRTMA) and cautioned against any form of unprofessional and unethical practice.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s dedication and commitment to leaving behind, a legacy of building institutions for sustainable development and economic growth.
The Governor stated this on Monday at the passing out parade of newly recruited 500 new personnel of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) held at the NYSC Orientation camp, Iseyin.
The Governor also officially inaugurated a 50-man Special Marshall of OYRTMA to effect what he called citizens arrest on the road in any event of violations against traffic rule while stressing his administration’s zero tolerance for indiscipline and rule of law.
In his address at the passing out parade held at the NYSC Orientation camp, Iseyin, Governor Makinde commended the dedication of the new recruits and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity devoid of untoward desires for self enrichment.
Speaking further, the governor emphasized the critical role that well-structured institutions play in enabling sustainable development and maintaining effective governance.
Governor Makinde noted that the new recruitment of additional 500 personnel into OYRTMA represents his administration’s commitment to building the capacity of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) towards effective governance in line with his vision for the state.
He also disclosed that the recently inaugurated Oyo State Mobilization Agency for Socio-economic Development (OYMASED) has commenced visitation to various MDAs in the state with the view to engender robust engagements that would culminate into capacity building for effective service delivery.
“We are here today at the pass mark parade of 500 newly recruited OYRTMA officers. Our presence here indicates how important this exercise is to our administration. If you remember when I was going round for re-election, I made a promise ti if was given another mandate to serve, I will be ensuring that the rule of law is upheld in our dear state.
“So, this recruitment is to strengthen the capacity of OYRTMA because when the agency is strengthened, rule of law in the state is strengthened.
“We want an Oyo State where all laws will be obeyed especially traffic laws. And to achieve this, we need to sensitize our people and enforce the laws. To sensitize our people, we formed OYMASED. They will be going round to let our people understand the law.
“We will be building the capacity of all agencies working to uphold the rule of law in Oyo State. As I have mentioned in many fora, want our administration to be remembered as one which left a legacy of building institutions for sustainable development in our dear state.
“Quite frankly, we are in Iseyin, and if I want to leave here to go to Ogbomoso, it is 45 to 50 minutes. If I am going to Oyo zone from where we stand now, it will take us about 30 minutes. And if we are going to the capital of Oyo State, Ibadan, it will take you about one hour, driving on a road with no pothole.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank the officers and men of the 2 Division, Nigerian Army, for collaborating with OYRTMA and we wantto really appreciate you.
“One thing that came out during the parade is that these men and women who have just been recruited in this place, they have been switched on towards discipline. When they need to go in twos or threes or have an entire formation, you saw it without anyone protesting. So, I can see the emergence of a disciplined organisation.
“And when you have discipline, you won’t have corruption. I want to implore the new recruits that this is an opportunity to serve. It is not an avenue to act unjustly or enrich yourselves. As you have succeeded, I am urging you to contribute your own quota to the development of Oyo State by doing your work diligently.
“To the new marshal, we will put mobile court around and if you are caught, you will be the court that will deal with the situation. So, let me congratulate you and Major Adesagba for this. It is voluntary. It is for people in our society to contribute their own quota.
“They can volunteer with Marshall vests, direct traffic and effect arrest. You can call the people at the Mobile Court if there is a need for that and they will dispense justice immediately. So, for those people who are fond of driving against traffic, they will now think twice before doing that. We have lost some people who were not expecting traffic from the other side of the road but got hit and killed. We don’t want that anymore in Oyo State.
“For Baba Major Razaki Salahu, you will agree with me that when Oyo State Road Safety Corps was translated to Road Safety, the output was not quite the same. This is what we have today. I still believe the state can be responsible, do what is right because we have demonstrated it in the past. And I look forward to engaging with you for few tips that can allow us to go back to those good old days when things were working and when Oyo State roads were very safe.
“On our part as an administration, we will continue to prioritize your welfare as we have always done for all our workers since we assumed office in 2019. You asked for hazard allowance and I agree with you that you face quite a number of hazard. The work we have asked you to do is fraught.with a lot of hazard. So, your hazard allowance is approved and would be effective August 1, 2024. So, I want to wish you well and thank you for the workyou are doing for our state.”
The Chairman of OYRTMA, Major Adekoya Adesagba (rtd) in his welcome address had appealed to the governor for hazard allowance for personnel of the agency as a moral booster to motivate rededication and commitment to work amidst various degrees of challenges faced in line of duty noting that 40 percent of the total new recruit were members of the agency’s ad hoc staffs while the rest 60 percent was drawn from the general public.
He narrated that the selection process was critical as the new recruits have been certified physically fit, mentally prepared, and committed to serving the people of Oyo State adding that they have equally demonstrated exceptional dedication and capabilities following an intensive training in enforcing traffic rules and regulations as well as safety and efficiency of the roads.
“Their training incuded daily physical exercises, basic traffic management principles, crash investigation techniques, Nigerian Highway Code, Road Traffic Crash rescue Operations, Fraud Prevention in Government Agencies and Parastatals, Ethics and Ethical values, practical traffic control strategies, emotional intelligence, inter-agency collaboration, and advanced motorbike training, among others.
“This comprehensive training has equipped the recruits with how to handle the challenges they will face in their duties, and we are confident in their ability to uphold the high standards of OYRTMA. I want to state that among these 500 new staff is Ige Ridwan Harewa, Nigerian boxing Federation Captain, who has won many laurels for Nigeria. We also have Laidi Taiwo, a Federal Republic medalist and Number 1 in Africa in the 81kg category, Number 1 in Nigeria in the 76kg category and Number 2 in the Commonwealth in the 76kg category in weightlifting.
“Additionally, we have Yekeen Tawakalt Oyetayo, ranked Number 2 in Nigeria and Number 2 in Africa in road and track cycling, along with many other illustrious sons and daughters of Oyo State. This shows that the selection process for these 500 recruits was executed with deliberate care.
“Furthermore, the volunteering, sponsoring, and supportive wing has also been introduced into the system, code-named OYRTMA MARSHALS, They will assist OYRTMA in promoting road safety and traffic management, support public education, conduct traffic control, and establish Road Safety Clubs in schools. They will work alongside OYRTMA officers.
The event was attended by top government officials, stakeholders, and members of the public, all of whom expressed their support for the governor’s vision of a more dynamic and well-managed transportation system.
Some of the notable dignitaries at the event include former Governors Hazeem Gbolarum, Hameed Gbadamosi, the Chief Judge of Oyo state, Justice Iyabo Yerima by Justice E. A. Taiwo, the Speaker of Oyo state House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Adebo represented by Hon. Dele Adeola, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu
State Executive Council members, former Oyo Head of Service and Pioneer chairman of OYRTMA; Dr Ebenezer Okebukola, Major Salawu Rasaq, and Oyo state Coordinator of NYSC
Others are Hon. Sikiru Sanda (Oyo ALGON), traditional rulers, religious leaders, Service Commanders, Oyo state, , Professor Deji Omole (Pro Chancellor of LAUTECH), Immediate past Oyo state PDP Chairman, Alhaji Omokunmi Mustapha, and others.
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