Reps Deny Mandating FRSC Marshals To Bear Arms

The House of Representatives Committee overseeing the Federal
Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) on Monday denied reports that it has
mandated Marshals of the commission to start carrying arms in
accordance with the law establishing it.

Addressing Assembly Correspondents, Chairman of the Committee,
Hon. Akinfolarin Samuel Mayowa said there was no time the Committee
said FRSC officials should, or should not bear arms, pointing out
that what the committee decided was to set up a committee to liaise
with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other
stakeholders in the possible implementation of the Act establishing
the commission.

Hon Mayowa said the Corp Marshal had complained to them about
the harassment of his men on the road which sometimes end up with
some of them being killed on the road and sought for collaboration
from the House on ways to ensure safety on the road.

According to him, “we made it clear that as representatives of
the people, we owe it a duty to ensure safety on the road for both
road users and FRSC officials because these people are also
Nigerians. We also made it clear that safety on the road is a
collective responsibility.

“We made reference to the 2007 Act establishing the FRSC,
especially section 19 which allow those exposed to danger can bear
arms and we said that a committee will be set up to liaise with
them and other stakeholders. We did not say they should start
bearing arms.

“There is an existing law and if you don’t like the law or
sections of the law, the right thing to do is to move for an
amendment to the law. When that is done, it will go through the
normal legislative process.

“So, we don’t want to lose our men unnecessarily because these
are also Nigerians. Initially, we wanted to refrain from responding
to this issue, but from the way the issue is going, we had to
respond and put the records straight.

“Yes, the existing law said if they are exposed to danger, they
can bear arms. We don’t even have the money to run the agency
effectively. So, how can we be talking about buying arms for them
now? Our concern is safety on the road and not whether they should
bear arms of not”.

Hon. Mayowa was however evasive on whether his committee will
support officials of the FRSC to start carrying arms and whether
the provisions of the existing law should be implemented or
amended.

The House of Representatives Committee overseeing the Federal
Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) on Monday denied reports that it has
mandated Marshals of the commission to start carrying arms in
accordance with the law establishing it.

Addressing Assembly Correspondents, Chairman of the Committee,
Hon. Akinfolarin Samuel Mayowa said there was no time the Committee
said FRSC officials should, or should not bear arms, pointing out
that what the committee decided was to set up a committee to liaise
with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other
stakeholders in the possible implementation of the Act establishing
the commission.

Hon Mayowa said the Corp Marshal had complained to them about
the harassment of his men on the road which sometimes end up with
some of them being killed on the road and sought for collaboration
from the House on ways to ensure safety on the road.

According to him, “we made it clear that as representatives of
the people, we owe it a duty to ensure safety on the road for both
road users and FRSC officials because these people are also
Nigerians. We also made it clear that safety on the road is a
collective responsibility.

“We made reference to the 2007 Act establishing the FRSC,
especially section 19 which allow those exposed to danger can bear
arms and we said that a committee will be set up to liaise with
them and other stakeholders. We did not say they should start
bearing arms.

“There is an existing law and if you don’t like the law or
sections of the law, the right thing to do is to move for an
amendment to the law. When that is done, it will go through the
normal legislative process.

“So, we don’t want to lose our men unnecessarily because these
are also Nigerians. Initially, we wanted to refrain from responding
to this issue, but from the way the issue is going, we had to
respond and put the records straight.

“Yes, the existing law said if they are exposed to danger, they
can bear arms. We don’t even have the money to run the agency
effectively. So, how can we be talking about buying arms for them
now? Our concern is safety on the road and not whether they should
bear arms of not”.

Hon. Mayowa was however evasive on whether his committee will
support officials of the FRSC to start carrying arms and whether
the provisions of the existing law should be implemented or
amended.