THE Federal Road Safety Corps has deployed over 19,000 personnel for the 2019 general election duties.
Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, this known on Thursday while declaring open a capacity building programme on election duties for FRSC staff held at Public Service Institute, Abuja.
He warned the officers against compromise, saying all electoral offences of the land were equally binding on all operatives.
He listed some of these election day offences to include bribery and corruption, giving false information, disorderly conduct, solicitation and canvas for votes, persuasion of any voter to vote or not to vote for any candidate, destruction of election materials, display slogan concerning elections, exhibit, wear, or tender any notice, symbol, photograph or card referring to the elections among others.
He said the Corps has an enormous task to deliver, including the deployment of patrol teams on election day to guard against violation of restriction order on the movement of vehicles and people.
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Oyeyemi, said following the appreciable roles FRSC had played in election success in the past, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, requested the Corps to screen and profile the drivers that would be deployed to drive vehicles that would convey election materials as well as inspection of vehicles to ascertain their fitness for election deployed.
He said the Corps could not afford to fail the nation at this time, adding that the capacity development with the theme: “Towards 2019 general elections: FRSC Roles and Responsibilities” has become necessary as an avenue to further develop the Corps capacity to deliver better service than it did previously.
He told the FRSC personnel that they remain under the covers of the election offences prohibition, urging them to look out for the banana peels so that there were no regrets recorded.
The Corps Marshal said the Corps has also deployed ambulances to various states of the federation as well as paramedics to respond to emergencies on election days.
He said Corps has also deployed tow trucks and recovery of vehicles along strategic voting locations and routes for obstruction clearance.
He said one critical being played by the Corps was the provision of easy access to vehicles conveying INEC materials and ensuring a free flow of traffic for voters within the permissible areas.
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