Enugu Head of Service cautions traffic officials against unruly behaviour

Enugu State Head of Service, Mr Ken Chukwuegbo has warned officials of the Enugu State Traffic Management Authority (ESTMA) to be civil in the discharge of their duties.

Chukwuegbo gave the warning on Thursday during an In House Workshop for ESTMA in Enugu.

He said that as a civil  servant, there were rules that governed their public conducts.

The HOS charged them to work with high sense of integrity and discipline, saying they were the image of the state.

“Road users are not your enemies, they are your brothers and friends. Approach them with sense of responsibility.

“The world is watching you and you must be civil in all your dealings, so approach traffic offenders in a very responsible manner.

“Remember that assault, battery and foul language is an offence or can  even lead to your dismissal,” he said.

He charged them to always study the civil service rules and ensured they acted within the confine of the law.

“Avoid being violent and rude to road users so that people will not label you and state as touts.

“Embrace dialogue so that with your effort we can rebrand Enugu state civil service,” Chukwuegbo advised.

He added that the training would offer the officials the opportunity to know their shortcomings and prepare them for efficient and effective service delivery.

In her lecture, the  resource person, Mrs Sylvia Onwubuemeli said certain attitude and responsibility was expected of a civil servant.

“Tricycle drivers and other road users can be crazy on the road but I want you to be self- discipline and avoid illegal deals.

“Conniving with transporters and allow them to pass even when they commit an offence is punishable.

“You are expected to work according to the vision and mission of the Enugu State Ministry of Transport,” she said.

Onwubuemeli urged them to be fair and ensure they treat every transporter equally and work as a team.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Transport (MOT) Mr Ogbonna Idike said the essence of the training was to remind officials that a lot was expected of them.

According to him, MOT in Enugu is four years today but we are not celebrating our achievements because some of us do not know their roles as a traffic officer.

He noted that in spite of  these years, majority of the staff were still ineptitude in handling of traffic matters.

Idike advised them to follow due process and conduct themselves in a way that would not to brought shame to the state.

“Mind your action and reactions especially to those who are not from the state.

“Whatever we do in transport sector affect other sector,” he said.

An official who pleaded anonymity said the training would enable them  to perform better based on rules and regulations governing the transport sector in Enugu state.

He regretted that most of the government officials always refused to obey traffic rules which was a challenge in carrying out their mandate. (NAN)