I am using this opportunity to draw the attention of Senator
Ibikunle Amosun, Governor of Ogun State to what is described as duplicity of
duties as well unbearable taxation to generate income at all means which
eventually does not get to the State Purse.
The Traffic Compliance and enforcement Agency was
established by previous administration to support the effort of FRSC, VIO,
Traffic police in the area of traffic related offence- Unauthorised parking, over
speeding, one way driving e.t.c
Since the agency commenced operation, it has helped to
cushion the effect of traffic problems within the state and out boundaries. One
major Challenge spotted about the agency is lack of necessary training. They
have started misbehaving, making money by all means for take home as against
the interest of the Government who needs more of tax payers’ money to further
provide I
nfrastrucres which it had invested heavily since the start of the administration.
A man who preferred anonymity was driving along Asero to
link the new dualised Abiola way road
beside farmers’ house and was stopped by the officers of trace accused of
driving on the pedestrian road. The man in question asked the members of trace
if the Government had built a pedestrian bridge on the road because he could
still not understand their claim. In the process of questioning, the front and
back plate was removed, immediately, the head in charge of traffic passage on
the road ask the officer to take available bike to deposit the plate at their Odeda
office. The man in question put a call to the Corps commandant and the Public
relation officer on the issue. He was
referred to Com. Odunlami, the head of Odeda office to return the plate. To cut the story short, the offence written
on the plate was-The driver of this vehicle is stubborn. Since when did
stubbornness turned offence in Trace law? One of the trace officers who spoke
to our correspondent said, they needed money to take home and they won’t
hesitate to challenge people who are not conscious of their right for any silly
mistake.
There are various degrees of various activities of Trace men
which we had witnessed that have no value as well as basis.
More importantly here is Parking Controllers who have just
been licensed by the Ogun State Government to collect money for parking of cars
as well as clamping and towing of vehicles parked at location believed not to
have followed parking rules. But surprising here is all these still falls
within the work of Trace which was established by law by State House of
Assembly.
Since the commencement of the parking managers, they have
launched serious attack on innocent citizen of Ogun State just to generate
money going directly to their account on whatever agreement it had with the
Government. From our investigation, we
found out that this peoples target is on luxurious cars and jeeps while any
rickety car parked at any location not authorised will be over looked. Also,
the men in the blue uniform looks for location near market and patronised area
where they carry out their business. They work with road side cloth and market
seller who calls them once any car parks in front of their market. I now wonder
why the Government decided to establish two agencies carrying out the same
functions. We have lot of people selling on the road not authorised since they
have no shop. Why don’t government start an agency that arrest people who sell
their goods at places not authorised unlike allowing duplicity of duties?
If the men of trace are not adequately staffed, the
government should create jobs with the aim of making money and relieve the
parking agent their jobs. Their men are at liberty to join trace or find other
jobs. I believe four thousand naira for
offence of parking wrongly is too much in a civil service state which economy
is sleepy awaiting investors. Government should looked into all these and act
accordingly.
Recently, a parking controller clamped a Lexus jeep at
Enugada lafenwa area belonging to a Special marshal of the road safety corps
member who preferred anonymity. All effort toward serious dialogue proved
abortive not considering the espirit de corp
which should have been taken into consideration .i still call on the Government
to intervene and return the money for the owner of this jeep because there will
be more to it in case of refusal.
One of the staff of the parking controller said they prefer
when they apprehend an offender and he begs them with an amount, that solves
the whole issue but once it get to their office, he or she has to pay the
necessary fine.
With this act, would government money be complete? I
recommend an overhaul in the activities of the trace and parking controller
without delay because Ogun People has more to tell as far as these men are
concerned.
No comments