Oyo State Government Reads Riot Act to Park Managers

Olubunmi Osoteku

As part of its efforts at ensuring safety and security of lives and property in the state, the Oyo State Government has read the riot act to members of Park Management System (PMS), in the state.

The State Commissioner for Public works, Infrastructure and Transportation, Prof. Dahud Sangodoyin, who released the Standard Operating Procedure for the PMS, in Ibadan, on Sunday, said the decision was taken because the state was concerned about the unhealthy rivalry in the transport sector, as well as reported reckless behaviour of some park managers in the state.

Sangodoyin highlighted the need to sensitize and give the park managers guidelines for PMS operations, affirming that the guidelines released by the state must be strictly adhered to by the park managers in their day-to-day operations.

The Standard Operating Procedure, as released by the Ministry indicate that no member of the PMS has the right to take laws into his/her hands, adding that the body must follow the Criminal Code Laws of Nigeria and the operational codes of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA).

The guidelines also states that all members of the PMS must wear a human face while discharging their duties and be civil to members of the public while working collaboratively with security organs of the state, saying no member of the PMS must drive recklessly or negligently, drink any form of liquor or intoxicant substances, take cigarettes or any unauthorized drugs, whether on duty or otherwise.

Furthermore, the guidelines provide that no member of PMS must hold canes, sticks or rods while on duty, just as they are expected to be as civil as possible and ensure that commuters’ rights are well protected, noting that all PMS members are expected to wear government approved vests and head gears, as prescribed by the Oyo State Government, at all times and not vests or head gears with unauthorized inscriptions.

The commissioner noted that the state government would create data points throughout the state for all PMS members to enable them get properly registered and ensure identity management, adding that all PMS members must have their guarantor forms filled wherein the perpetrator or the guarantor, in the absence of the perpetrator, would be held liable for any form of infringement against the laws of the country/ Oyo State.

Other operating procedures, as revealed by the state include: that the leader of any unit would be held liable and face the disciplinary panel should any member under his supervision contravene any of the stipulated guidelines; feedback points and phone numbers shall be created throughout the state; no PMS member must over speed above the prescribed limits or overload their vehicle, as perpetrators would face the law.

Earlier, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, warned members of PMS to desist from fomenting trouble in the state, adding that security agencies would not give room for anybody to affect the peace of the state.

She noted that the meeting had been long overdue because of the myriad of complaints about the violence going on within the transport sector in the state, disclosing that the state government had come out to say that the PMS is in charge of the transport system in the state and called on all other transport services to come under the PMS so they could all work together as a body.

Responding, the Chairman, Oyo State Park Management Disciplinary Committee, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, pledged to abide by all the guidelines raised by the government, asserting that any member who is not ready to abide by the new guidelines would be made to quit the job.