By Gozie Ben 08037901004
The establishment of Imo State Traffic Management Authority IMSTMA, by the Okorocha administration through the instrumentality of the Imo State House of Assembly, IMHA, Law No; 14 of 2011 is another milestone recorded by the administration that deserves commendation from all and sundry. The laudable ideal which is aimed at curbing the mind- boggling traffic situation across the state, especially, in the capital city of Owerri has no doubt portrayed the legislative and executive arms of government as one that is not only proactive, but sensitive and responsive to the yearnings of the Governed.
According to findings, major causes of the ugly scenario which has made driving and even pedestrian movement within the municipality a horrible and energy-sapping exercise include the apparent conversion of every available space to a motor park by commercial bus and tricycle operators. As the illegality continues unabated, tricycle riders popularly called “Keke”, aggravate the situation by picking and dropping passengers arbitrarily.
Though inadequate road network is undoubtedly contributing to the traffic menace, the wanton disregard for road traffic rules and regulations by all manner of users is being fingered by experts in road management as a cankerworm that has eaten deep into our societal fabric.
As IMSTMA authorities battles to nip the problem in the bud, street-trader’s and hawker’s who have defiantly refused to relocate to the “Somachi Business Axis” as directed by the state government, has become most worrisome. Again, while Owerri residents grapple with the situation, the proliferation of traffic control groups (uniforms) in the capital city which has thrown them into confusion and amounts to duplication of duties, calls for urgent attention. This, if corrected, will afford the inhabitants the opportunity to appraise, pillory and as well as extol the concerned authority as the case may be.
Considering the foregoing, I make bold to implore members of the State House of Assembly that midwifed the birth of IMSTMA to rise to the challenge of enforcing the empowerment of IMSTMA to take full control of traffic management so that the objective of initiating the noble ideal, will not be an exercise in futility. By so doing, they will justify the mental exercise and energy dissipated in the process of enacting the Law No. 14 of 2011.
Truly, the Chief Don-Linus Onwukaike — led group is slowly but steadily recording tremendous success in reducing traffic jam on our roads through efficient service delivery and prompt evacuation of damaged vehicles. This is not an easy task, considering the influx of tourists’ and commercial businessmen/women into our dear state on daily basis. Busied by this onerous task, it is therefore very unfortunate that some bad eggs and misguided staff of IMSTMA have made themselves willing tools of enemies of the present administration by using the media to blackmail their employers that provided them the obviously scarce job opportunity.
Recently, a group under the aegis of Concerned IMSTMA Workers for Justice accused the management of unsubstantiated acts of misconduct. In the report, they alleged that every applicant paid a compulsory fee of NI, 500 without stating the purpose. They accused Gov Rochas Okorocha of selling the outfit to Chief Don Onwukaike and appointing his brother as his representative. That they were trained without allowances, employed without letters and complete uniforms. They brought to the fore. their myopic reasoning, high level of illiteracy and ignorance by insinuating that IMSTMA should be under ENTRACO or Ministry of Transport, hence their salary, according to them, should be structured into the civil service of the State. Thee question now is, if the evil spanner they are throwing into IMSTMA does not belong to their masters, why will they form an association within the lees than five months of operation of this well — organized traffic body.
The truth is that members of the group who were discovered to the chagrin of the management to be regular students of some institutions in the State and staff of other private/public establishments, took to blackmail because their plan to replicate the ghost worker syndrome was discovered and scuttled by the IMSTMA management team that subsequently placed them on probation and withheld their appointment letters. From empirical evidence, their allegations are baseless, unfounded, spurious and ridiculous. Honestly, they insulted the sensibilities of Imo people by accusing Governor Okorocha of selling the outfit to someone else and placing his brother in the second fiddle position in a corporate organization he has sold (according to them) and by implication lost every right.
Is it not laughable that they expected everything on a platter of Gold including, three- months free training/materials, free uniforms, free foot wears, free belts/caps, free application forms and even employment into a job that the least person (graduate) earns a minimum of N25,000.OO monthly salary: I am yet to see any right-thinking human manager and employer of labour who will hesitate to sack or place any of his staff on probation for breaking the constitutional rule on code of conduct. Who on earth will expressly issue an appointment letter to a fraudulent staff whose appointment is yet to be confirmed as a manager? They are merely crying wolf and shedding crocodile tears because they could not perfect their criminal act. It is on this premise that I humbly enjoin my colleagues as journalists to always cross-check our facts, to avoid heating up the polity unnecessarily.
To the committed and dedicated staff working tirelessly in tandem with the objective of the founding fathers of the project called IMSTMA created to make our daily activities around our dear state Imo a pleasurable experience, I say, be focused and persevere for the road to success is always tortuous and excruciating. The beginning of every good initiative is very difficult, but your way to professional stardom is just by the corner. Avoid acts that will besmirch the good name and images of these vision-bearers IMSTMA. For as our roads get freer, Imo will continue to be better to the honour and glory of God. Traffic rule offenders that you apprehend and punish according to. IMSTMA law must complain and criticize you. Never mind. It is natural. The overall good of our road users supercedes individuals interest. More grease to your elbows.
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