society
Dissecting Corps Marshal’s welfare-driven leadership and the pivotal evolution of a new era in FRSC
Published
2 weeks agoon
Dissecting Corps Marshal’s welfare-driven leadership and the pivotal evolution of a new era in FRSC
In recent times, Nigeria has witnessed a surge of transformation across various sectors, and perhaps one of the most vital yet underrated sectors witnessing this shift is road transportation sector and road safety management. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria’s lead agency for road safety administration and traffic management, under the amiable leadership of Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, is undergoing what can only be described as a pivotal evolution. This “Wind of Change” sweeping through the FRSC is not just a symbolic shift but a substantive movement that promises to redefine the nation’s approach to road safety, reduce fatalities, and usher in a new era of accountability and efficiency.
Since the inception of the Federal Road Safety Corps in 1988, the significance of employee welfare as a cornerstone of effective leadership has never been more apparent. The present Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, a proactive leader known for his progressive approach, is reshaping this narrative by prioritizing staff welfare, not just as a supportive measure but as a transformative leadership strategy. His commitment is revolutionizing organisational dynamics and redefining the potential of welfare programmes to foster loyalty, enhance productivity, and build an environment where employees thrive.
Right from the onset in FRSC, the overwhelming influence of traditional leadership models often undervalued employee welfare, focusing predominantly on productivity and targets. However, as the corporate landscape shifts, leaders like Shehu Mohammed are recognising that employee well-being is a fundamental component of sustainable success. Mohammed understands that welfare policies are more than mere benefits; they’re investments in the people who drive the organisation forward. His leadership philosophy embodies the belief that employee welfare is directly linked to performance, satisfaction, and the overall health of an organization.
One of the most critical strides recorded in the history of the Corps in that regard is the recent decision taking by Shehu Mohammed, which is the harmonisation of Marshal ranks to their equivalent in the Officers cadre. This decision of harmonisation of ranks could be said to be one of the most courageous decisions ever taken by any Corps Marshal, where about 1395 personnel of the Marshal cadre were converted into the Officers cadre in line with the provisions of the public service rules. This marks the first time such milestone could be recorded in the Corps.
For the sake of clarity, the FRSC’s rank structure is divided into two main categories: commissioned and non-commissioned officers. The commissioned officers include: the rank of Assistant Route Commander to the rank of Deputy Corps Marshal. On the other hand, non-commissioned officers comprise personnel of the rank of Road Marshal Assistant III to the rank of Chief Inspector. In addition, while the Commissioned Officers are staff who were employed with a minimum of a first degree certificate, the later are those recruited with a minimum of an ‘O’ level certificate or equivalent.
By the provision of the public service extant regulations, staff who were recruited as non-commissioned officers that later proceeded to acquire more education in the course of their careers, could be converted into the Officers cadre in line with standard operating procedures on further studies and career progression.
While the initial prominent attempt to tackle this issue of harmonisation in 2021 could not hit the nail on the head as only staff with HND at the point of entry were considered, the Shehu Mohammed’s harmonisation took the bull by the horn. It cleared the backlogs and ensured that all concerned are not only converted, but the ranks harmonized to, matched their equivalent in the Officers cadre.
This harmonization of ranks which saw the officers cadre strengthened with 646 Assistant Route Commanders, 407 Deputy Route Commanders, 109 Route Commanders, and 233 Superintendent Route Commanders is expected to bring about a more streamlined and efficient organisational structure, promoting better communication and collaboration among officers and men.
To this end, it is safe to say that Shehu Mohammed’s approach to welfare enhancement is distinctive in that it integrates welfare into the core strategy of leadership. Rather than treating welfare initiatives as optional add-ons, he views them as integral to the organisation’s mission and objectives. His programmes go beyond rhetoric. It encompasses career development opportunities, mental health support, flexible working arrangements, and other initiatives that address the holistic needs of employees.
Mohammed’s welfare model is designed to empower employees, offering resources that support both their professional and personal lives. This approach has had a ripple effect, fostering a culture of trust, mutual respect, and loyalty. Today, FRSC personnel feel valued, knowing that the Corps Marshal and his Management prioritise their well-being, and this has led to higher level of commitment, and a more dedicated workforce.
One of the key outcomes of Shehu Mohammed’s welfare-driven leadership is the transformation of organisational culture. By prioritizing employee welfare, he has cultivated an environment where transparency, communication, and collaboration thrive. Employees are more engaged, more motivated, and are willing to go the extra mile, knowing their efforts are appreciated and supported.
Additionally, Mohammed’s leadership has encouraged employees to take ownership of their roles. His welfare programs include upskilling initiatives that allow staff members to pursue further training and development within the organization. In the last few months for instance, over 8000 staff have been trained comprising of arresting Marshals, officers in different expertise and professionalism, and Members of Management. By investing in their growth, Mohammed ensures that his team has access to career advancement opportunities and feels a deeper connection to the organisation’s success.
Mohammed’s approach to staff welfare isn’t just an isolated example but a potential model for sustainable leadership across agencies of government. By aligning his welfare strategies with organisational goals, he has demonstrated that taking care of employees is not only ethically responsible but also a smart move that could trigger speedy realisation of the corporate mandate of the Corps. His initiatives have led to measurable improvements in performance and morale, showing that welfare and productivity are not mutually exclusive but, in fact, mutually reinforcing.
As organisations worldwide grapple with the actualisation of their vision and mission, Mohammed’s welfare-centered leadership provides a blueprint for creating more resilient and successful workforce. His model emphasises that when leaders invest in their people, they are, in effect, investing in the longevity and prosperity of their organisations.
Shehu Mohammed stands as an exemplary leader who is changing the narrative by redefining what it means to lead. Through his commitment to staff welfare enhancement, he has shown that true leadership is not about authority but about service, care, and the courage to prioritize the needs of others. Mohammed’s vision is a testament to the power of compassionate leadership and serves as a reminder that when employees are genuinely valued, they bring their best to the table, benefitting both themselves and the organization.
In an era where the demand for compassionate and effective leadership is paramount, Shehu Mohammed’s model of welfare-driven leadership shines as a beacon of hope and progress. His transformative approach continues to inspire his contemporaries, proving that prioritising employee welfare is not only feasible but essential for a thriving, sustainable future.
On this note, it’s my believe that this new era for the FRSC should and would inspire Nigerians to reimagine their relationship with the lead agency. It should propel a shift in perspective—one that understands safety as not merely the responsibility of FRSC alone, but as a shared duty and a national priority. As this Wind of Change sweeps through the Corps, the nation stands on the precipice of transformation, where lives are preserved, roads are safer, and a culture of accountability prevails.
Bisi Kazeem, fsi, anipr, MNIM,
A retired Deputy Corps Marshal, veteran road safety professional and a public relations expert, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
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society
Tinubu Has Plans To Change Nigeria — Doyin Okupe
Published
16 hours agoon
November 21, 2024Tinubu Has Plans To Change Nigeria — Doyin Okupe
…It Will Take Two Years For Reforms To Bear Fruits
…Says Atiku, Obi Had Nothing To Offer
…2023 Election Was Not Rigged
For Doyin Okupe, sitting on the fence is not an option. He prides himself as a rare politician who speaks without minding whose ox is gored. Mostly misunderstood, he has been around for a long time but has refused to exit the stage.
As a spokesman to two former presidents, he courted controversies and was once dubbed the attack dog to a sitting president. From seeing satire to innuendoes thrown at him, Okupe has waxed stronger brushing aside criticisms, he said he has grown accustomed to and fears no one. To him, eliciting criticisms is the price for being principled, and it amounts to anathema to stay under the radar for fear of being criticised.
In this interview with Isuma Mark of THE WHISTLER, Okupe took on long time political colossus, Atiku Abubakar and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, dismissing them as having nothing better to offer Nigeria. He lambasted them for daring to propagate what he claimed was a fallacy that the 2023 election was rigged.
He dubbed President Bola Tinubu a reformer in Aso Rock whose policies would begin to yield results from two years of the administration.
Except…
You’ve been in the news lately with critics and supporters saying that you’re looking for a job. What’s happening?
I am 72 years old. I have been a spokesman for two former presidents in Nigeria. I’ve been the spokesman of a major political party, NRC (National Republican Convention). I was also the spokesman of the Liberal Convention.
I have had my bit. Do you understand? I have had my bit. Those who say I’m looking for a job; if you checked that demographic, they are people in their 20s who do not know to us
I have always gone for and spoken strongly about whatever I felt compelled to comment on. That has been my lifestyle. When I supported Obi (Peter), what was I looking for? Obi was not even in the country then. He never lobbied me. He never spoke to me. He never asked for my support.
I went to Abeokuta (Ogun State) and I had a press conference, and I said I am stepping down from running for president and that I will be supporting Peter Obi. What was I looking for then? Because I believed at that time in regional equity and justice for us. Because we believed that the presidency should come to the South.
After a Northerner had been there for eight years, there is an existing understanding in the polity of this country among the political elites that the presidency would rotate between the North — not only between the zones but between the North and the South. So, if the presidency is coming to the South, there are three zones in the South—South-West, South-South and South-East.
It was only the South-East that had not had a shot at it. Nobody lobbied me, no human being on earth came to me, and pleaded for my support.
I personally, having conferred with Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who advisedly decided that I should support the South East. The best candidate at that time in the South-East, in PDP, was Peter Obi.
So, that’s why I went to support him. So, what was I looking for? That is my style. That is how I am.
When I was in the NRC, I was one of the campaign directors for Bashir Tofar. We campaigned vigorously around the country, but we lost the election. The military tried to play a game, tried to recruit us, and they did, they finally recruited us (the NRC) to support the annulment.
I left and resigned from my membership of NRC and joined NADECO (National Democratic Coalition) at the time when my colleagues in the NRC — I was in the top bracket of NRC — were being made ministers, I left it and I joined NADECO.
Abiola (MKO) did not call me, nobody called me, but that was what was just, and that was what was fair. That has always been the underlying theme in our philosophy in all my political engagements.
When I supported Obasanjo in 1998, Obasanjo never, ever called me. I didn’t know him closely. We were not friends, we were not colleagues, we were not anything. But I believed that this was a general who had strength and capacity, and he would do well, better than any other candidates, including Falae, who I had been very close to because of NADECO.
I held a press conference, and I announced that I was going to support Obasanjo. Obasanjo did not know anything about it, and on the first of December 1998, I drove to Ota Farm to meet Obasanjo and declared support for him.
That’s how my journey with him started. So, those who see what I’m doing with Bola Tinubu today and thinking that it was some personal dream, I told you, they can only be young people who do not know. They don’t have the history; they don’t know what my pedigree is. I am a man that supports what I consider to be fair and just even if it is to my detriment.
I met the president, Tinubu, about a week ago. I’ve not seen him for seven or eight years. I have not spoken to him on the phone. He didn’t talk to me. But he’s somebody I know very well politically. We have never been on the same side before in politics but we’ve always shared a camaraderie since our NADECO days. We came very, very close. When you’re in the trenches and you’re fighting a liberation war or another, you tend to be bonded more than just ordinarily when there are no issues.
From that time, till when he was governor and left as governor, I’ve had opportunities to sit with Bola Tinubu for three hours unending. And he has impressed me, not only as a politician, but as a technocrat, a man that was capable of deep thinking.
He has developmental ideologies and policies at his fingertips. This thing, you don’t learn it. It’s a gift.
The last time we had anybody close to him was Awolowo (Obafemi). Awolowo was a very serious-minded politician, but who had ideas of public policies that would benefit the masses. That is what Bola Tinubu is today.
Bola Tinubu, you know, in the villa, we have a reformer, a president who is a reformer.
I’ve heard some people saying that Bola Tinubu came to the office without a plan, he has no clue, that is balderdash, that is total nonsense.
I have worked with two past presidents. I have studied other presidents closely from a very close point. I don’t know any Nigerian president from 1960 to date who has come more armed, better prepared for governance than this gentleman.
Unfortunately for him, he has come into government at a very terrible and awful time. And when I met him, I told him, ‘are you out of your mind?’How would you want to succeed a Buhari (Muhammadu) administration, eight years of total abandonment, decadence and retrogression?
He said that is his passion. He was driven by that passion to help Nigeria. Having been part and parcel of those who brought Buhari, you can’t blame somebody for bringing a leader. If the leader does not perform, it’s unfortunate. But if you are brave enough to say, yes, you know, whatever you have done wrong, let us put our necks out and correct it. And this is what this guy is doing.
How can you ask him, how can you ask a president, Bola Tinubu, how can you hold him accountable for the ills of 30, 40 years? And for the two-terms of national abandonment of the last eight years, it’s unfair, it’s unrealistic.
And go and check it, being a reformer, you know, he didn’t ask me to say this, but I’m telling you from my own common sense and understanding of how government works, Bola Tinubu will need a minimum of two years for some of his policies to be properly grounded, established and to begin to produce results.
I have gone to read history, I read about Lin Kuan Yew. Lin Kuan Yew had, you know, Singapore, and at that point in time, the other country next to it, Malaysia, before they pulled out. He had those 31 years to rule that country, to ground that country, to transform that nation from third world to first world. 31 years, I read his book.
He said, I did certain things that were not okay. He was even almost draconian at some points, but, you know, he was focused on what he wanted to do, Just like Bola Tinubu today appears to be very strong-minded, very focused, and determined to pull this through.
It’s going to be a couple of years of pain and hardship, but he’s doing what other presidents for the last 10, 20 years have refused to do. The choice he had was to run and was to come into governance and just continue business as usual. By the time he came to the government, 98% of our revenue generated was being used to pay debt
Arbitrage on the foreign exchange was at an alarming rate. We were subsidising power, subsidising hype, subsidising virtually everything. We have over-borrowed and we are now going back to the nefarious and condemnable, financially undisciplined act of printing currency. We printed more than 21 trillion. Nobody can continue like that. If we continue like that, we will become a totally devastating, failed state by now.
So, we should commend him, support him, pray for him, cooperate with him, and endure the hardship for this short period and wait for the results. The opposition is running helter-skelter, talking about all sorts of things.
The real opposition are Abubakar Atiku and maybe Peter Obi. In the first instance, the opposition appears to be unrealistic, saying the presidency was stolen. There’s nothing like that. No presidency was stolen. I’m not saying there was no rigging.
There was no election that we have done in Nigeria since 1960 to date that was not rigged, not one maybe Abiola’s election because of the unique nature of the voting pattern. You know it was Option A4 people were counted, apart from that every other election was rigged.
We were in this country when a sitting president (Umar Yar’adua) said the process that brought him into power was flawed. That was when he put up that Alias committee.
He confessed that it was flawed. I was involved in the process that brought Obasanjo. I was involved in the process that brought Yaradua
I was involved in the process that brought G.E.J. I knew about what brought in Buhari. All without exception were flawed. All.
So, talking about rigging, that’s not the issue. But you see, you only rig where you are strong. So, if you look at it properly, when three major candidates emerged for that election, it was obvious that we will have a minority administration.
Obi was substantially supported by the Southeast. And if the Labour Party or Obi, think that people rigged, APC rigged, how did Obi win the heartland of Bola Tinbubu? Why didn’t Bola Tinubu rig Lagos for himself? Why? If Obi said or the Labour Party said APC rigged the election, how come Obi was able to win the home base of Bola Tinubu? How come APC lost the election in the home base of a sitting president? How come APC lost the election in the home base of the Secretary to that government? The accusation about rigging does not hold water at all. It doesn’t hold water.
The truth of the matter is that under the best of conditions, the results we got may not have been the exact results but they will have that ratio. I was in a Labour party. We couldn’t have done better than we did. I knew that for other reasons, but that’s a discussion for another day.
And in any case, you know, when you look at it today, critically, Bola Tinubu has come into this government with better policy documentation than any of these two rivals by far.
Atiku is a magnificent, experienced, knowledgeable, and thoroughbred politician. I am telling you that I knew that for a fact. He also came with a testament, all right, that, you know, could hold sway, a testament which would have been, if he won, would have been binding on him to Nigeria.
But when we put the testament side by side, which is the correct reality we have on the ground today, it’s not applicable. The testament, the documents, and his preparation were hinged mainly on obtaining some funds, $10 billion and $15 billion or so.
They had that $15 billion and $5 billion, you know, loans, which they intend to inject into the economy and they sort a couple of things out.
That was theoretical. Because by the time Buhari was leaving, nobody was going to borrow Nigeria money Again. If people were ready to borrow Nigerian money, Buhari would not have had to go and print money. We were no longer credit worthy by the majority of the international financial institutions.
The premises and the pillars which Atiku placed this testament on are what you call sinking sand, they can’t work.
As for Peter Obi, Peter Obi has not given any documents to Nigerians as to what he was going to do. I can tell you for a fact.
I’ve admitted Atiku’s own but in the Labour Party, we did not have a document that we could adopt as our panacea for what was going on. All we were saying was that we want to take Nigeria from consumption to production. Good rhetorics but it’s not grounded either in policy development or in principle application.
I never supported Bola Tinubu, he’s not my person. He’s not; we’re not in the same party.
But in retrospect now, his reform, I mean, his agenda, his agenda that he brought, the Renewable Hope Agenda is the most credible document that can address and is addressing the current situation. And as you can see, it is being meticulously applied.
First of all, when he came, he came and removed the subsidy, and not removed the subsidy, but announced that the subsidy was removed because Buhari had already removed the subsidy. From June 1st, there was no subsidy provision in the project. So, the statement that the subsidy was gone was just an acceptable confirmation of an event that had happened. This was superfluous, but the subsidy was actually removed.
Next, he attacked the arbitrage in the foreign exchange section. And this is what I bring Bola Tinubu and his government for. Unknown to many Nigerians, I mean, people were feeding fat on foreign exchange earnings.
There were people who didn’t do any job. They just used contacts in the CBN, and collected one million dollars every week and got the difference, and made stupendous wealth. All that has gone, this man has stopped it.
After that, I mean, see, he has now implemented the student loan program. After that, he implemented this consumer protection thing, providing money for low-income earners and all that, in a systematic manner.
Monies that were being owed over seven billion dollars, that were being owed and were going to cripple so many things, the criminal activities in the country, they paid them off. The ways and means of 21 trillion naira that was a deficit have also been neutralised.
And you say that the man does not have a plan! Now, you know, two months after coming to government, he put up a committee to look into the tax reforms for the country, which was in his agenda before he came. So, this man has the systematic, reliable, focused, applicable agenda that can take Nigeria out of the woods.
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society
You Are More Successful Than You Think” By Prudent Ludidi
Published
2 days agoon
November 20, 2024“You Are More Successful Than You Think” By Prudent Ludidi
There’s the truth that I believe has the power to transform your life. A truth that can shift your perspective, boost your confidence, and propel you forward. That truth is: you are more successful than you think.
We often measure success by external standards. We compare ourselves to others, focusing on their achievements and accomplishments. We forget that success is a personal journey, unique to each of us.
You see, success isn’t just about achieving grand goals or reaching milestones. Success is about progress, growth, and perseverance. It’s about showing up every day, putting in the work, and striving to be better.
Think about it. You wake up every morning, ready to face another day. You tackle challenges, overcome obstacles, and push through difficulties. You learn, adapt, and evolve. That’s success.
You’ve made it through tough times, difficult conversations, and uncertain situations. You’ve navigated uncharted territories, taken risks, and stepped outside your comfort zone. That’s success.
You’ve built relationships, formed connections, and touched lives. You’ve made a difference, no matter how small it may seem. That’s success.
But often, we downplay our achievements. We dismiss our progress, focusing on what’s still to be done. We compare our behind-the-scenes moments to everyone else’s highlight reels.
Stop doing that.
Recognize your strengths, accomplishments, and resilience. Acknowledge the late nights, early mornings, and endless efforts. Celebrate your small wins, because they add up.
You are more successful than you think.
Your success may not look like anyone else’s. It may not be flashy or Instagram-worthy. But it’s yours, and that makes it remarkable.
Don’t wait for external validation to confirm your worth. You are enough. You are worthy. You are successful.
In conclusion, remember that success is a journey, not a destination. It’s the accumulation of small victories, lessons learned, and growth experienced.
You are more successful than you think. Believe it. Own it! Celebrate it!
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society
Ilaje Progressive Summit Group Congratulates Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Election Victory
Published
2 days agoon
November 20, 2024Ilaje Progressive Summit Group Congratulates Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Election Victory
As governor elect of ondo state, Lucky Ayedatiwa continue to receive congratutory messages from well wishers, businesses stakeholders, political leaders, groups, associations, religious leaders, and the likes, Ilaje Progressive Summit Group, has also deem it fit to congratulate his Excellency for the election success of November, 16, 2024.
The group leader under the leadership of it’s executive administrator, Hon.( Prince) Aiyetoba Emmanuel has shown his excitement over the election success.
In his word, “Your Excellency sir, Mr. Governor, please accept our warmest congratulations on your well deserved victory and our best wishes for your success as you prepare to take up the responsibility and challenges of your high office.As you embark upon your new responsibilities, we assure you and the people of the sunshine state of the continued friendship and sympathetic interest of the Ondo state Government and the people.
He added” we look forward to working with you, not only to develop closer relations between our states but also to concert our efforts in the cause of peace and make Ondo state great in the comity of states”
Ilaje Progressive Summit Group is a group that cut across the 12 Wards in Ilaje Local Government and the group were fully respected by members found in each wards of Ilaje and they all delivered the wards to APC with large margins in the just concluded
Governorship Election.
Please Mr Governor Sir, accept our warm congratulations on your well deserved victory and our best wishes for your success as you prepare to take up the responsibilities and challenges of your high office.
As you embark upon your new responsibilities, we wish to assure you and the people of the Sunshine State of the continued friendship and sympathetic interest of the Ondo State Government and the people.
We look forward to working with you not only to develop closer relations between our State but also to concert our efforts in the cause of peace and make Ondo State great in the comity of States.
Since the creation of Ondo state on 3rd February, 1976, no governor won all the 18 LGA in any governorship election.
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