December 16, (THEWILL) – As the saying goes, “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.” The truism in that saying was why the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed decided to organise a day of fun, food and music to appreciate the staff and stakeholders alike for their sacrifices and immense contributions to the Corps in the outgoing year. The date of what was termed, “end of year get-together” was Thursday, 12 December, 2024 and the venue was the FRSC National Headquarters office complex Abuja.
For any discernible observer of the FRSC activities, the outgoing year had been characterised by various activities since Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed took over the mantle of leadership of the Corps in May this year when he hit the ground running as one running against time. Conscious of the need for urgency of time in his activities, the Corps Marshal has kept every staff on their toes with various development programs which ranged from re-jigged operations; introduction of use of technology, partnership drive, staff discipline and capacity development initiatives that have touched the participation of the entire cadres of personnel to his bold decisions in promotion matters leading to conduct of promotion exercises for all ranks in the Corps. His new staff capacity development and welfare mantra culminated in the last harmonisation of the much-awaited harmonisation of the Marshals’ ranks, all of which created vigorous activities that an officer has rightly described as “an ongoing revolution” in the FRSC.
And as the year comes to a glorious end with hopes of even more vigorous activities in 2025, the Corps Marshal saw the need to organise an evening where the leadership and all cadres of staff including the stakeholders and Officers’ wives could sit together for a refreshing music, meal and pep talks that could reinvigorate the staff and acknowledge those that have contributed exceptionally to the new deal in the Corps.
That was why as the top echelon of the Management was rising from the one-day strategy session organised earlier in the day to evaluate the activities of the outgoing year and set a new template for next year’s activities, the arena of the program had been well set with regimental and dance music being rendered by the FRSC Band which renditions served as a reminder to all participants that the stage has been set for the evening. It was also an evening of many surprises for some staff who saw the well-packaged FRSC Band group in their new attires for the first time as they initially mistook them for an outside Band in view of the newness of both their instruments and attire. Even the Chairman of the Organising Committee, DCM Chidiebere Nkonta had to confess that he was initially confused about the identity of the Band group, fearing that they could have been an uninvited Band, not knowing that they were the newly equipped and attired FRSC Band publicly adorning their new attires and displaying their new instruments for the first time
Moved by the melodious tunes of the music coming from the Band group which had taken a vantage position under the canopy with the conspicuous display of food stands containing assorted cuisines, every staff had to hurry down to take a seat at the well-arranged and labelled tables according to ranks, seniority and cadres in line with regimental practices before the arrival of the Corps Marshal, the National President of Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association (ROSOWA), Dr Nafisa Shehu Mohammed and her team of Officers’ Wives and the Special Guest of Honour, Senator George Akume for a night of music, meal and media blitz.
First to display in the fun-filled evening for the anxious participants already seated to enjoy themselves was a special Christmas Carol group led by the head of the National Traffic Radio (NTR), DCC Honey Ogundayo, with Officer Mala of the Corps Public Education directing. They put up such a spectacular performance that everyone gave them a loud applause which prepared the moods of the people for the rest of the activities for the evening.
With the welcome address delivered by the Chairman of the Organising Committee who is also the Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Training, the Corps Marshal was respectfully invited to address the gathering under a rowsy welcome by standing ovation that took time to settle as a demonstration of people’s admiration and love for a Corps Marshal that has become the darling of every staff for his landmark decisions on staff capacity development and welfare since he assumed office.
Overwhelmed by the intensity of all eyes on him and the rapt attention being paid by all to hear what he would say, the Corps Marshal doused the tension when he said: “Am short of words to adequately express my appreciation to all staff of the Corps for their sacrifices and resilience in the outgoing year.” He further assured that as the servant leader, he will continue to evolve programs and measures that could enhance staff’s working and living conditions and will lead the campaign for positive repositioning of the FRSC from the front.
While demonstrating his usual pro-welfare stance, the Corps Marshal announced the rehabilitation of some vehicles which he said, would be distributed as staff cars for the Sector Commanders without any, he announced the commencement of the second batch of transfer allowances from Monday, assuring staff that no personnel would be denied of any allowances he or she has legitimately earned, but charged them to remain focused and dedicated to their assignments by working harder to ensure freer road environments during the yuletide.
The Corps Marshal especially appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for always paying attention to the logistics needs of the Corps and assured Nigerians that the presidential attention which has motivated the staff for increased productivity will be reciprocated through improved service delivery especially during the end-of-year patrol and after.
The representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who is also the permanent secretary of General Services while delivering the SGF’s goodwill message applauded the leadership of the FRSC for its innovativeness in road traffic management as evidenced by its use of technical tools and commended the staff for displaying commitment to their duties. He stressed the need for greater dedication among staff to their duties in managing the challenges of increased human and vehicular movements during the yuletide to give succour to all the road travellers during and after the festivities.
As part of the activities to mark the evening, awards were presented to some deserving staff and individuals for their immense contributions to the success of the Corps’ campaign for a safer road environment in the outgoing year. Among the recipients were the National President of the Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association, Dr Nafisa Shehu Mohammed, whose members ensured peaceful home fronts for the Officers and Marshals thus providing an enabling environment for increased productivity among the staff; a Nigerian Olympic medalist in the last outing of the country in the Olympic game who is a staff of the FRSC; a team of patrol from Kaduna State who’s members recovered over 8 million Naira cash from the scene of a crash and some media partners for their consistency in reporting road safety and emergency related news among others.
There was no doubt that as people were taking their turns to serve themselves sumptuous buffet meals under a convivial atmosphere of live music entertainment and hilarious comedy provided by the popular comedian under the stage name of ‘Technology’, everyone agreed that it was a night full of fun, laughter and food and prayed for good health and more guidance to Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed for introducing human face into his management of the FRSC. And as people were slowly and sluggishly departing the arena with the music still playing after what everyone agreed was a memorable night, one thing in the minds of the participants was, how 2025 would look like, if half of the year could generate this level of activity.
May God take us beyond next year. Amen!
*** written by Sani Abdullahi
