The House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Safety Corps (FRSC), has stated that the matter on whether personnel of the corps should bear arms on duty is still under review.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Samuel Ayoola gave the clarification at a media briefing, Monday in Abuja and admitted that the FRSC’s Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi during a budget defence meeting last week, requested for it but that the committee didn’t take a definite position on the matter as widely reported.
He said there was a provision in the Road Safety Establishment Act to the effect that some personnel on essential duties bear arms. However, he argued that in view of the current economic situation being faced by the country, there was a need for a review on the matter.
“In that meeting, it was clearly stated that we as responsive representatives of the people, owe it a duty to protect lives on our roads.
The marshal gave some information on the harassment of his men, some leading to death, but we agreed that we are going to set up a committee.
“The matter is like two sides of the same coin, because the road safety personnel are Nigerians, the road users are Nigerians; all of them need to be protected.”
He noted that where a law is offensive, or unacceptable to the people, the only thing needed is to amend it. We need to liaise with the FRSC, and the SGF who supervises it, before we can arrive at a point.
If there is a need to amend the law, Nigerians would make inputs during public hearing,” he submitted.
