We’re guided by operational ethics – VIO management

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), FCT, has assured that its personnel will diligently discharge their legitimate duties for seamless traffic management.

The Head, Public Relations and Enlightenment of the service, Mr Kalu Emetu, made this known in an interview with our reporter on Sunday in Abuja.

Emetu was reacting to complaints by some motorists that the personnel of the DRTS exhibit unprofessional conduct in the course of discharging their duties.

The spokesman explained that the DRTS management understood that the directorate existed because there were Nigerians who made use of the roads, and as such could not do without them.

“With this in mind, we hold them in very high esteem.

“But, however, we should also be mindful of the fact that they are humans and that those who misbehave while on duty are just few among the personnel which makes them human,” he said.

He said that the directorate had over time embarked on a series of sensitisation of the personnel of the directorate on how to discharge their duties diligently devoid of harassment from motorists.

Emetu added that the directorate usually carries out sensitisation of its personnel every morning in all the 22 commands and outposts.

This, he said, was to ensure that they were properly briefed by their various Commanders on how to go about the day’s job before embarking on their lawful duties.

“The theme of the discussion always centers on how to relate with people. We always make them understand that the motorists are their employers, therefore, they deserve utmost respect.

“However, those who have refused to heed to our advice by way of sensitisation, we usually ensure that they face disciplinary committee for being rude or arrogant to the members of the public,” he said.

Emetu explained further that as much as the directorate’s personnel were expected to discharge their duties professionally, the service also expected members of the public to equally understand that they are human.

“Some of the reactions or attitudes of our men are as a result of what they also get from some motorists or other road users.

“As a management, we cannot afford to support any form of misbehaviour on the part of our men.

“We always ensure that everyone abides by our operational code of conduct and in turn the provisions of the Public Service Rule,” he added.