Stakeholders in Nigeria’s transport industry have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to confirm the Acting Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Dauda Biu as the substantive Corps Marshal.
Following the retirement of Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi President Buhari appointed Biu to head the Corps in acting capacity. The appointment took effect from July 24.
Speaking at the weekend with Pointblanknews.com, the stakeholders said keeping Biu in acting capacity for nearly two months wasn’t good optics for the Buhari administration.
They argued that a security agency like the FRSC should have a clear line of succession, and that Dauda Biu, being the most senior officer at the time of Boboye’s retirement, should automatically become the substantive Corps Marshal.
“I don’t understand the rationale for appointing the man as Acting Corps Marshal. Is it that a man who who has put in over 30 years in the Corps requires additional training before becoming the substantive Corps Marshal?” quizzed Transport consultant, Chief Chike Okonkwo.
He held that the idea of keeping the heads of agencies with chains of command in acting capacity jeopardizes discipline, heightens suspense, and dampens the morale of officers
Another consultant, Alhaji Opeyemi Yekini said Biu’s appointment in acting capacity showed that some persons were not alive to their responsibility.
“Boboye’s retirement didn’t come as an emergency. Several months before his retirement, the relevant agencies of government, including the Federal Road Safety Commission, ought to have met to vet, in this case, Biu.
“What should have followed was President Buhari announcing him as the Corps Marshal. Period. That’s the way governments are run elsewhere, and I see no reason why ours should be different,” he stressed.
Yekini noted that with the Yelutide nearing, there was the need for a substantive Corps Marshal who will be in charge to map out safety strategies and policies to keep commuters safe throughout and after the period.
“It is not good to have an officer who will be preoccupied with the distraction and anxiety of when he will be confirmed. President Buhari should immediately confirm Dauda Biu as the FRSC Corps Marshal to enable the man hit the ground running to move the Corps to the next level,” appealed Yekini.
