THE senate has condemned the rising cases of some officers and men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC),who were being killed by hit-and-run drivers during their legitimate duties on highways in the country.
The chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Tijani Kaura, expressed the concern of the senate when he led the committee on oversight functions on a visit to the corps headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday.
He, however, advised workers of FRSC to protect themselves during patrol activities to avoid being killed by reckless drivers.
Senator Kaura said the committee was disturbed by the reports of patrol men being killed by reckless drivers while performing their legitimate duties on the highways, warning that such acts by the drivers were unacceptable to members of the National Assembly.
He pledged the support of members of the senate in the efforts by the management of FRSC to tackle the challenge, adding that staff of FRSC must on their own take necessary safety measures to avoid the risk of being killed by reckless drivers
The chairman said that members of the committee were on oversight functions to FRSC national headquarters to enable them ascertain the level of implementation of the 2016 budgetary appropriations to the corps as well as familiarise themselves with its operations with a view to determining areas of support.
He commended the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, for the commitment he has shown towards road safety management in the country, adding that members of the committee will continue to render necessary support that could make the operations of the corps successful.
Dr Oyeyemi on the occasion, said though, FRSC is not a revenue generating organisation, it has through its patrol activities, generated over N1.6billion, which was paid directly into the Federation Account.
He informed members of the committee on the structure, functions, challenges as well as the funding needs of the corps.
He noted that as part of the implementation of the 2016 budget, FRSC is constructing permanent office accommodation in four states, all of which are in different stages of completion.
He commended members of the committee for their support over the years.
and made mention of the release of the 2015 budgetary appropriation to the corps, which he described as unprecedented, adding that the gesture led to enhanced logistic empowerment for the corps.
He said that the overhead cost for this year’s budget has been fully released up till date
and assured members of the committee that with the support the corps is receiving from the committee, it would continue to work hard to ensure improved service delivery .