SPECIAL MARSHAL

1.       ESTABLISHMENT The Special Marshals are the volunteer arm of the Federal Road Safety Corps. This volunteer arm was created by the same FRSC statute, Act CAP 141 Laws of the Federation 1990. They are men and women of means, with proven integrity in society, and able to influence their immediate constituency (work place/community) in favor of the course of road safety. The Act empowers the Special Marshals to carry out patrol and other activities that ensure good road usage on our highways. Just like their Regular counterparts, they can arrest and book traffic offenders as well as prosecute them when necessary.

The Special Marshals are covered by an insurance policy in case of death through road traffic accident. They are also protected by immunity provision in section 17(1) of the Act. By this immunity clause, the Special Marshal is shielded from liability for any act validly done by him while on duty on the route to which he is assigned.

At present, the Special Marshals are administered as a full Department headed by a senior officer in the rank of Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM).

2.       STRENGTH OF SPECIAL MARSHALS

The strength of Special Marshals stood at 8,000 when the Commission had 8 zones. In 1996, over 15,000 members of Special Marshals were registered nationwide, shortly after then the management deemed it necessary to prune down the membership to a manageable figure of 8000.  In 2001 there was pressure from the National Executive Committee of the Special Marshals for increase.  The management again approved an addition of two thousand slots to take care of the demand, which now gave a total number of 10,000 members.

Appraisal of the Special Marshals has just been completed, and the exercise has reduced the strength of out to a little above 6,000. However, management has approved enrolment of more hands in the outfit. By this approval, more than 8,000 Special Marshals will be enrolled by the end of the year 2007.

3.       ADMINISTRATION OF SPECIAL MARSHAL

There are four (4) levels of Special Marshals Administration

a.       UNIT LEVEL

The Unit Command is the grass root level of the Commission. Special Marshals at this level are coordinated by a Special Marshals Unit Coordinator who is responsible to the Unit Commander. Like any other level, there could be more than one Special Marshals Unit with at least fifteen members in each Unit.

b.       STATE/SECTOR LEVEL

At the Sectoral level, the Special Marshals are coordinated by the State Coordinator who is responsible to the Sector Commander. The jurisdiction of the State Coordinator covers all the Special Marshals at the Unit and State levels.

c.       ZONAL LEVEL

Some Zonal Commands have two or three states while some have four. The Special Marshals in each zone are coordinated by Zonal Coordinator who is responsible to the Zonal Commanding Officer. It should be noted that there are no Zonal Special Marshals. Note also that the commanding officer administers the Special Marshals through the respective Heads of Special Marshals in the Command.

d.       NATIONAL LEVEL

This is the Management body of the Special Marshals nationwide.
The Committee meeting is usually presided over by the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive. Other members are as follows:

National Coordinator                           
Deputy national Coordinating      
National Secretary                     
Asst National Secretary              
National Treasurer                     
Ex- Officio member in each of the twelve (12) zonal commands.                                 
At the National Level, the Special Marshals are headed by the National Coordinator who is responsible to the ACM (SM). He oversees the affairs of the Special Marshal at the National Level. He liaises between the Special Marshal and the Management of the Commission. He is the head of Special Marshals Nation wide.

4.       FUNCTIONS OF SPECIAL MARSHALS

a.       Monitor road users and Road Marshals with a view to providing constructive feedback to the Commission.

b.       Patrol the highways and control traffic on group basis.

c.       Participate in research activities relevant to road safety.

d.       Organize, sponsor or participate in workshops, public enlightenment programmers and Road Safety Campaigns.

e.       Organize and encourage Road Safety Clubs.

f.        Any other function as may be assigned from time to time by the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive (COMACE).

5.       HONOURARY SPECIAL MARSHALS

These are some people who have Special Marshals status conferred on them due to their notable and outstanding contribution to safety on our roads. Such individuals do not need to apply; rather their contributions speak for them.

Every state has only three (3) slots of Special Marshals in a year.

6.       PATROL OPERATIONS

Special Marshals go out on patrols in groups on the days agreed by the groups. The take off of patrols must be the Command office. Special Marshals can book offenders and even prosecute. But emphasis on their patrol activities is on public enlightenment.

7.       WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES AND NATIONAL SUBMIT

Special Marshals organize annual programmes to create more awareness and enlightenment; among themselves, thereby increasing their effectiveness.

a.       WORKSHOPS

This is an annual event organized by Special Marshals at the state level. Special Marshals in each state plan and execute this programme. Some of the common events of the workshops are quiz/debate competition by members of Road Safety Club in the state, seminal paper, patrol operations etc.

b.       CONFERENCES

This is the same with state workshops except that conferences are done at the zonal level. Here, Special Marshals from the component states that form the zone come together. Conference papers based on the selected theme are presented by eminent personalities from within or outside the Commission.

c.       NATIONAL SUBMIT

This is a national event for Special Marshals. It involves brainstorming to chat a new line of action for better performance or introduction of new concept for better service delivery. COMACE is always in attendance, or represented where he is unable to attend.

It is note worthy that resolutions are reached at each of these programmes. The communiqué helps in policy formulation in the Commission for better safety strategies on our high ways.

These annual events are opened to sponsorship.

8.       KITS

All Special Marshals must be kitted with the prescribed regalia and identity cards. The regalia are paid for by each Special Marshal, even through they remain the property of FRSC. In the event of any Special Marshal leaving the outfit, he/she must surrender his kits and ID Card to the Commanding Officer.

9.       GUIDELINES AND CODE OF CONDUCT

Guidelines and Code of Conduct has been produced to guide and regulate the activities of the Special Marshals. Similar guidelines and code of conduct also exists for the Road Safety Clubs.

10.     ACHIEVEMENTS

The existence of the Special Marshals has brought the awareness of road safety to all segments of the society because their membership cut across every sphere of our society.

By their numbers, the special Marshals have adequately complemented the efforts of the Regular Marshals, especially in the regions where no FRSC Commands exist.

The Special Marshals have severally made tangible contributions to the operation of the Commission through donation of vehicles and other patrol equipment, as well as sponsorship of public enlightenment programmes of the Commission.

The Special Marshals have served as image launderers for the Commission through the strategy of advocacy.

11.     CHALLENGES

a.       There is need for expansion of the numerical strength of the Special Marshals to spread their activities to all corners of the country

b.       Lack of funds/sponsorship to energize Road Safety Clubs through quiz/debates and Road Safety Shops.

c.       There is no administrative vehicle for effective and regular supervision of Special Marshals and their activities in Field Commands.

12.     PROSPECTS

Plans have been completed for the increase in the Special Marshals strength to 30,000 by the end of year 2010. When this figure is ultimately achieved, every town in this country will feel the impact of the Commission through the Special Marshals.
Honest men and women with financial and other material resources are to be enrolled into the outfit. Their financial clot coupled with their number will no doubt impact positively on the proper road usage in our country.

More attention is being given to the Road Safety Clubs. The end result of this is that, the new generation of Nigerians will be safe road users thereby reducing to the barest minimum the ugly carnages prevalent on our highways at present.

STRENGTH OF SPECIAL MARSHALS BY 2006