By Ademola Orunbon
In order to enhance Security of lives on the road and also improve revenue generation into the State Government’s coffer, the Chairman of the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS), Mr. Olugbenga Anthony Olaleye and 26 other members of staff have been inducted as Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Special Marshals in Abeokuta.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman noted that joining the volunteer arm of the FRSC goes beyond the paraphernalia of just being addressed as Special Marshals but a call to serve the motoring public by enhancing safety of lives on the road.
“The move to join is primarily driven for safety of lives. For OGIRS, we are the ones in charge of collecting road taxes which is key to revenue generation in the State. We are not looking at revenue generation alone but more interested in joining hands with other arms of government to save lives on the road.
“It is a way of going beyond the statutory right of collecting road taxes as revenue collecting agency, but also as an arm of government that manages and ensures safety of the lives of taxpayers on the road” he said
According to him, the death of a single vehicle owner would translate to loss of revenue, as only the living can register and renew vehicle particulars and carry out other tax transactions.
The number one road safety Marshal at OGIRS enthused that members of the unit would put in their best to live up to the oath of allegiance, while appreciating the Executive Governor of the State, Prince Dapo Abiodun for giving the agency an enabling environment to contribute their quota to the growth of the State.
Giving a keynote address, the State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Commander Anthony Uga pointed out that OGIRS Unit of the Marshall as the first revenue agency to be inaugurated in the whole federation should see their induction as a rare privilege and a call to identify gaps on the road in the absence of FRSC officers.
“Having been screened and trained on modalities involved in attending to emergencies on the road to safe lives, your induction is a call to serve, complement and collaborate with FRSC Officials”, he said
The State Coordinator of FRSC Marshall, Elder Adeniyi Solomon in his welcome address said, the newly inducted Marshals should distinguish themselves on the road in the area of public enlightenment as it relates to safety of lives, enjoining them to be careful while carrying out the humanitarian service.
The newly inducted Marshals thereafter took the oath of allegiance to be honest, sincere, diligent, impartial and not engage or be involved in any activities in conflict either directly or indirectly with FRSC extant rules and regulations but follow the path of justice, fairness and not betray the trust reposed in them.
