ADDRESS BY CORPS MARSHAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE, FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY COMMISSION OSITA CHIDOKA AT THE LAUNCHING OF THE NEW SPECIAL MARSHALS’ REGALIA ON THURSDAY 21 ST MAY 2009 AT SHERATON HOTEL ABUJA

  PROTOCOL

 It is with profound pleasure I welcome you all to this all important event in the existence of the Federal Road Safety Commission. It is historic in more than one way especially in the creation of awareness about the activities and operations of one of the arms of the Commission, the Special Marshals.

Briefly put, the Special Marshal is the volunteer arm of the Commission backed by the legislation that established the Federal Road Safety Commission. This is made up of men and women of proven integrity who have volunteered to render selfless services to our great country, Nigeria.

The history of this special outfit is as old as that of the Commission and it has came a very long way in working partnership with the Commission at mitigating the occurrence of road traffic crashes on our roads and highways.

Today, we are here to celebrate their commitment to the services of their father land and to launch one of their paraphernalia of operations and to promote their activities.

The new enhanced regalia outfit for the Special Marshals is designed to include state of the art safety features that are lacking in the one that is about to be phased out. This new regalia have also been patented with the relevant authorities to protect from copyright and abuse.

I want to appreciate the contribution of the Special Marshal in all the areas of our operational activities. I thank you so much for your contributions and ask that you make it consistent and think about the need to increase it.

However, Special Marshals have to meet certain requirement to maintain the membership of the outfit. To this effect the Commission is working on a new guide line for Special Marshal’s membership. This is about to be published.

Management has also decided to set short, medium, and long term targets for the Special Marshals. This is to facilitate easy yearly assessment of their performance, first as a group and then as individual. To this effect the management has commenced a detailed data base for the Special Marshals.

In order to encourage relentlessness in the service and to give honour to whom it is due, a classification of the Special Marshals has been put in place and this will be awarded according to the years of service in the Commission and with annual performance evaluation records.

On this note, it is worthwhile to mention that as members of our dear organization, there is the need for them to be updated on ISO-9000. Like Regulars, Special Marshals must be equipped with the latest knowledge and skills necessary for effective and efficient performance. Every member is expected to participate in training exercise during the sectoral workshops nationwide.

Furthermore, as is in line with the current dispensation, management is introducing new I.D. Cards for all members capturing their biometrics, thus serving as ATM card.

Other measures taken to facilitate the membership of Special Marshals is the widening the scope of our insurance scheme, which has now been extended to cover new members. Management will continue to explore more avenues of encouragement and support for the nation to be better for it.

It is hoped that in no distant time, we shall have Retired Regular Marshalsbecome Special Marshals so that their services in the life saving campaign continues in their retirements.

I would like to remind our esteemed Special Marshals that the law guiding the use of the regalia has not been changed. It should not be used as a status symbol nor is it to be displayed as guise at the back or on the dash boards of your vehicle. Remember now and always that the regalia is a security apparatus and therefore should treated with all dignity.

It is hoped that as you adorned the new regalia, it will translate to greater commitment to the nation and this shall be evidenced by reduction in road traffic accidents in your domains and in the Country at large

Thank you and God bless.