It was a deep feeling of relief and excitement for residents of Enugu, especially road users, when the words reached the streets that the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had ordered the immediate suspension of the collection of fines for traffic offences in Enugu Capital Territory, for a period of one month.
The one month grace according to the governor was to give every traffic offender apprehended the grace to be enlightened, corrected and educated on the offence(s) committed, after which the individual will be allowed to move on without being asked to pay fines.
This singular act by the governor which has received wide commendations from residents of the state and the general public is one of his numerous people-oriented policies aimed at bettering the lives of the people.
As a listening and God fearing governor with the interest of the people at heart, Gov. Ugwuanyi while handing down the directive to stakeholders in the transport industry in the state, stated that his action was in response to the persistent complaints from the public over “the activities of some people purporting to be working as traffic wardens cum revenue collectors for the State Ministries of Transport and Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority as well as three Local Government Councils in Enugu Metropolis”.
The governor further said, “When I assumed office as the Governor of this State, I did promise to provide good governance to our people and to do all I could within the powers of my office, to make their lives better. As a responsible government therefore, we cannot fold our hands and watch individuals subject our people, as well as visitors to the state, to extortion and all manners of oppression in the guise of enforcement of traffic laws. Such practices are indeed inimical to our efforts to sustain the peaceful and serene environment that Enugu has come to be associated with.
“As we do know, this is a civil service state and a situation where for example, a civil servant who may be earning about N25,000.00 a month, is asked to pay the same amount as punishment for a traffic offence, is totally unacceptable. There are also questions as to what really constitutes a traffic offence, who is legally authorised to fix or collect fines for such offences and where is the money thus collected usually deposited?”
Consequently, the governor directed that “in order for us to address the foregoing issues properly and to save our people from further unnecessary hardship, I hereby order the immediate suspension of the collection of fines for traffic offences in Enugu metropolis, for a period of one month. Within this period, traffic offenders will still be apprehended but instead of being asked to pay fines, they will be educated on the use of traffic lights and on other extant traffic laws of the state, after which they will be allowed to move on. This is consistent with my belief that punishment for such offences should more educative rather than excessive”.
On the need to emphasize the commitment of his government to the enforcement of traffic laws in the state, the governor said: “I must however make it clear, that this measure is temporary and is not in any way, intended to encourage road users to disobey traffic rules and regulations.
Rather, it is aimed at giving us time and opportunity to streamline the activities of enforcers of traffic laws in the state and also enable our people to be properly educated on what constitutes traffic offences and what they should do to avoid committing them. While I expect all the concerned authorities to comply with this directive, I urge everyone in this meeting, especially the transport unions and civil society groups, to help us enlighten the public as to its true purpose.”
From the foregoing, it is heart-warming to note that this uncommon disposition of the governor has reaffirmed his determination to maintain his administration’s integrity and the pact he had with the people of the state during his electioneering campaign to alleviate their sufferings and give them a sense of belonging as true heroes of democracy. It has proved that the governor is sensitive to the plight of the people of the state and is poised to give them a fair deal in the affairs of things for them to feel the pulse of good governance and participatory democracy.
As a man of empathy, care and concern, the governor in keeping faith with his beliefs, in a similar forum reiterated that: “I cannot sit down here as governor of this state and watch the people being asked to pay such a huge amount of money (N25,000.00) as a fine for just disobeying traffic rules. Certainly it will not happen again.
“This is not to say that traffic offenders will not be asked to pay fines at the expiration of the one month or that road users should now start abusing the traffic rules. We will within this one month of grace certainly arrive at fines that will be most appropriate for such offences. But for what is obtainable today, I will not allow it.”
In view of the above, and given the show of mercy by the governor and his resolve to accede to the yearnings of the people, the ball is now in the court of the people of the state, especially road users to take the advantage of the one month grace and on-the-spot teaching to acquaint themselves with traffic rules and regulations in the state in order not to be apprehended and made to pay fines.
Let it equally be on record that it is still the cardinal responsibility of the government to enforce traffic rules and regulations in the state to be able to reduce the rate of road accidents and ensure orderly movement of vehicles.
The one month grace/on-the-spot teaching measure which is temporal is also an acid test that would prove whether or not the people of the state appreciate the spirit of friendship and genuine partnership being extended to them by the governor.
It will improve the quality of transportation in the state, enhance security, save lives, propel an enduring legacy of a more decent inter-personal relationship between road users and traffic officials and in return save the government from any form of embarrassment.
The measure will also create awareness, starve road users of any claim of ignorance of the offences committed and keep them alert to the dangers and punishments associated with acts that violate traffic laws.
The governor’s intervention has calmed down frayed nerves and caused those who have experienced the activities of these traffic wardens cum revenue collectors to heave a sign of relief. The onus is on road users to support and cooperate with the government in its efforts to advance development in the transport sector and guarantee the safety of the people.
Amoke, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Enugu State Governor, writes from Enugu
Comments