By Anietie Akpan
Hard times now await motorists and, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel that give or demand bribe saying all fines should be paid to designated banks.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed who gave this warning in a statement also warned motorists not to entice the FRSC patrol operatives with financial benefits as well as other gratifications when arrested for violating traffic regulations.
In a statement dated June 17, by the FRSC Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal, Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Corps Marshal maintained that “FRSC has a zero-tolerance policy for bribery and corruption, and it is completely against the values, ethics and standard operating procedures of the Corps for its personnel to be given any form of gratification while on duty.
“As such, any motorist found attempting to bribe FRSC personnel will be arrested and prosecuted in line with extant provisions in the Corps’ Establishment Act (2007), as the Corps does not, and will not tolerate any form of corruption whatsoever”.
He said being an organisation that upholds the highest level of transparency in its operations, the Corps has had enough of motorists trying to circumvent the law by offering bribes to its personnel, against making payment for their fines.
Mohammed advised motorists to comply with the law and “pay their fines to designated banks which are the only legitimate way to settle fines. This is because, all fines generated through patrol operations are paid into the Treasury Single Account, not into the pockets of individuals”.
In the same vein, the Corps Marshal also warned the staff against demanding for bribe from motorists as he admonished the public to “report any operative seen requesting bribe from motorists because it is against the standard operating procedures for patrol operations”.
He revealed that the public can report such operative through “mail @ info@frsc.gov.ng, the FRSC Mobile Application, or the Flag-It anti corruption App. The public could also reach out through our social media handles; facebook.com/FRSCNigeria, x.com/FRSCNigeria, instagram.com/FRSCNigeria, youtube.com/FRSCNigeria”.
While commending citizens that have regularly flagged the misconducts involving the Operatives without resulting into violence, he said the FRSC remains committed to upholding the law and maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
In this regard, he said the public is admonished to comply with all traffic regulations on movement of persons, animals and goods on Nigerian roads.