Why we will soon start taking bribes - FRSC officials send message to Buhari
Some men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have allegedly threatened the Muhammadu Buhari-led government that they could be forced to begin taking bribes like officials of the Nigeria Police Force except they are immediately paid their November salaries.
Some officials of the agency said they would be forced to start taking bribes like the police
The has been severally rated as one of the most corrupt federal institutions in the country with the FRSC maintaining a level of respect, but the current threat is because they are reportedly being owed their salaries and allowances
The Punch reports that the officials spoke on the condition of anonymity, added that there had been no explanation as to why they are still being owed at a time there have been asked to double their efforts because of the festive season.
The report quoted an official of the corps, who gave his name as Patrick, as saying there was no excuse for withholding salaries since the FRSC is a revenue-generating agency.
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“The government is being very unfair to us. Christmas is next Sunday and many of us who are male officials have been asked to remain on the roads to ensure that the roads are safe.
“How can the agency ask me to spend Christmas on the road and at the same time deprive me of my salary?
“They should not turn corps officials into policemen because that is what will happen if we are not paid,” he reportedly said.
The report also quoted a female lawmaker and single mother as saying: “Everyone knows that the prices of goods increase during Christmas and that is why most people try to do their shopping early December.
“It is bad enough that we are witnessing a recession but the government should not worsen our condition by withholding our pay.
“What will I feed my children this Christmas? Where will I get the money to take them out to have fun? They cannot tell us not to extort money from motorists and at the same time deprive us of our salaries. It is unfair.”
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A third official identified as Abiodun said officials of the agency had received their salaries on the seventh day of the following month since five months ago and added: “There have always been bad eggs in the agency, but the fact that most officials are well paid sort of reduced the number of bad eggs.
“However, now that salaries are not being paid, the government seems to be giving officials the ‘green light’ to indulge in corrupt practices. You cannot flog me and ask me not to cry.”
In reaction, the organisation’s head of media relations and strategy, Mr Bisi Kazeem, said it was not the fault of the agency that its officials were being owed, but that they may have been affected by the integrated payroll and personnel information system under which federal government officials are paid.
He added that officials are paid separately for road checks, adding: “The salary issue is from IPPIS and not from us; so, I suggest you get in touch with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
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“The salary issue is being sorted out and anyone who takes bribes knows the implications. Anyone who is caught collecting bribes will be dismissed.”