By Alhaji Sani Idoko Abdullahi
Whether in the realms of military regimentation or civil democratic leadership, the place of legitimacy as an effective instrument to leadership cannot be overemphasized. Ideally, legitimacy is about earning the trust, confidence and unwavering commitment of the people to a leader’s vision based on their conviction in the rightness of his actions. That ability of the leader to earn the trust and confidence of the people who would willingly key into his vision is what defines legitimacy in leadership, bearing in mind that it’s not based on coercion, deceit or manipulation but on the will of the people to surrender to the directions of their trusted leader.
That has been one of leadership challenges facing us over the years either in the election or selection process. Interestingly, legitimacy is what Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, the current Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has in abundance even long before his appointment was announced on 20 May, 2024.
As we all know too well, systems do not only contain processes, they are subjected to the push and pull by external and internal forces (people) whose motivation, inspiration and trust in the leadership propel the quality and quantity of input and outputs that come out as authoritative decisions which everyone in the society feels. Using the same analogy, therefore, we can safely say that FRSC as an institution that has existed for 36 years has produced leaders whose actions were driven by various factors that produced results that continually shaped the organization over the years.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed who is marking the first 100 days of his stewardship of the FRSC this week had manifested various leadership traits that have earned him the confidence and trust of the staff to lead even at the highest level of the Corps. His introduction of the new dimensions to the management of the affairs of the FRSC since his assumption of office based on purpose driven policies are all not surprising to those that knew him before, instead, they see the changes, as the continuation of his well known leadership traits built over the years. For not only was he eminently qualified for the prime position, judging by his intellectual and professional attainments, he came in with an unblemished records of goodwill and solidarity that have remained the basis of his legitimacy in the leadership of the Corps.
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That was why his appointment on 20th May, 2024 through a letter from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Gorge Akume conveying the President’s approval threw the entire staff of the Corps across the nation into wild jubilation.
And since then, it has been one form of action or the other justifying the long held views of him by staff about his capability, morality and capacity to lead the Corps to greater heights. Oga Shehu, as he is fondly addressed by majority of the staff, commenced his leadership journey in the FRSC through his maiden parade address to the staff at the National Headquarters where he unveiled his six points policy thrusts upon which his management would be anchored.
These were: Rejigging the operational strategies of the Corps; Training and retraining of the personnel for realistic expectations; Strategic partnership, Digitalization of the operational activities; Discipline and staff Welfare. Today, it is evident that every staff across the cadres of the Corps has witnessed the validation of these six points agenda in line with the Corps’ popular campaign slogan of “we say, we do.” As a demonstration of leadership by example, the Corps Marshal did not only launch various special patrols aimed at addressing some specific traffic management challenges that have been identified, but leads from the front as an active participant, thus creating motivation for field operations staff who now feel sense of importance in their operational activities.
His policy of training and retraining has manifested not only in creating new opportunities for staff at the tactical levels of junior officers and Marshals, but at the strategic levels where senior officers now have greater access to knowledge at the various advanced civil and military institutions for enhanced capacity development programs.
Furthermore, the growing interest in the activities of the Corps by relevant stakeholders especially in the media has created new spirits of shared responsibility in road traffic management and crash reduction strategies which are impetus to his commitment to strategic partnership initiative as earlier envisioned.
The recent launch of the FRSC Mobile App which harbors all information relating to the activities of the Corps ranging from driver’s license production to traffic management, crashes and rescue among others are evidence of the progress he has made in deploying digital tools for his transformation agenda in the Corps.
And for a Corps Marshal that enjoys enormous goodwill among staff in the Marshals’ cadre, his bold policy on harmonization of Marshals’ ranks and conversion of those with requisite qualifications and approvals remains one of the most laudable initiatives that has raised a new consciousness and hope among that cadre of staff with more Marshals craving for approval for further education and enhanced capacity development.
When he first visited Lagos state in July after his appointment and saw how enthusiastic staff of the state defied the rainfall to welcome him to the city, he became so emotional that he promised at the interactive session later that he would immediate supply raincoats that could make operations easier even during rainy season, a promise he fulfilled less than a month after his pronouncement to the excitement of all.
Additionally, some commands that have been yearning for supply of the necessary administrative, operational and rescue equipment had cause to get excited when Sector Commanders returned from their last Commanding Officers’ strategy session held at the FRSC National Headquarters Abuja with various store items including the new Call Users Group (CUG) handsets for more efficient and unlimited hours of communication among holders, which would not only promote prompt report of crashes but diligence in patrol operations and communication system.
Clearing of backlog of promotion which successive Corps Marshals have always worked hard to do through various policies enjoyed the attention of Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed when he directed that the 2024 promotion exercise commenced early enough to avoid a situation where the eligible personnel could miss out on the exercise for whatever reasons.
This was after he cleared the pending appointment of the Deputy Corps Marshals, thereby creating high expectations in the Corps as every eligible staff in all the cadres have been notified of the Timetable and the exercises which have commenced in earnest.
With a leadership that believes in the values of modesty and moderation, every visitor to the FRSC National Headquarters Abuja now realizes that the Corps under the leadership of Shehu Mohammed Management now exudes calmer and more relaxed atmosphere devoid of apprehension whether he is in the office or not. This is a reflection of the popular saying that a leader defines the values and character of the people he leads.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed as a Prince of Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna State where he holds the traditional title of Sulukin Arewan Zazzau and one with robust Islamic background has proved through personal examples that modesty and moderation are the hallmarks of his leadership style to which every of his aides now imbibe. This has created a more friendly and conducive working environment for enhanced productivity by the staff.
As he marches on with the banners of legitimacy which he holds firm in his management of the affairs of FRSC, there’s no doubt that Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed has eloquently proved just within 100 days of his assumption of office that the trust and confidence reposed in him by the staff and generality of the people as well as the Federal Government that provided the platform for him to manifest his leadership qualities are not misplaced.
As we congratulate Corps Marshal Shehu on his first 100 days of action, may God continue to guide him and his entire Management team and staff to be able to pilot the affairs of the FRSC to the point where the vision of the founding fathers will be vindicated for creating a Corps that’s civil enough to earn the trust of members of the public in rescue operations, but feared by the recalcitrant motorists because of the firmness of its officers in traffic law enforcement. Ameen.
Alhaji Sani Idoko Abdullahi contributed this piece from Lekki, Lagos State