FCTA accused of violating approved scheme of service for vehicle inspections officers

FCTA accused of violating approved scheme of service for vehicle inspections officers

The National Council on Establishment (NCE) at its 40th meeting held from 12th -

16th March 2018, approved the creation of Vehicle Inspection Officer, Cadre Graded 

on SGL 08-17 for candidates possessing relevant university degree, vehicle officer/ 

vehicle inspection Superintendent Cadres Structured on SGL 06th – 14th the National Diploma / Higher National Diploma holders and vehicle Inspection Assistant Cadre SGL 03-07 for secondary school certificate holders and technical certificate such as 

electrical mechanical and Auto mechanics. 

In the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the Road Traffic Services 

Directorate has failed to adhere strictly to the approved Scheme of service both 

in the areas of appointments, career progression and assigning of 

responsibilities in terms of assigning of professional duties as stated in the 

public service scheme of service. This is seriously observed and becomes a 

matter of concern to the entire vehicle inspection officers in the FCT, 

Directorate of Road Traffic Services as the level of disservice is gradually set 

in as they are made to be taking professional instructions from the 

Administrative Officers who did not possess the required skills and knowledge even at the Various Zonal offices in the Federal Capital Territory. 

The Hon. minister is hereby invites to note that the non-adherence to the 

schemes of service is a great violation of the Public Service Rules and it has 

serious implications on both the Road Traffic Services and Professional 

Vehicle Inspection Officers as they are not allowed to exercise the skills and 

knowledge acquired from the school and training. MOST of these major 

implications are stressed further for proper understanding.

The appointment of non-professionals as Heads of Directorate and Units in the 

various Operational Units will give room for disorderliness and confusion as 

the Professional Vehicle Inspection Officers are NOT expected to be taking 

directives from the administrative officers who talk the skills and knowledge, 

yet they are assigned to oversee the inspection of the vehicle even at the zonal 

levels. 

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services in FCT and throughout the country is 

a professional organization which is expected to be guided by its own 

professionals' rules for uniformity and effective operations, contrarily the FCT 

Directorate has been manned by the Administrative Officers who have not 

undergone any requisite training apart from the Administrative procedures 

training and general rules such as Public Service Rules. 

The recent effort by the FCT Management for repositioning of the Directorates 

to achieve its core mandate is far from the truth as the practice on ground 

cannot improve Service delivery as the necessary rules and guiding actions of 

Road Traffic services has been abandoned or eroded. The major focus of the 

FCT Management, which is generation of revenue has been placed higher on 

the other Road Traffic matters like safety on FCT roads which is the core 

mandate of the Service. 

The Professional Vehicle Inspection Officers are being demoralized and 

subjected to disrespect as the Administrative Officers who are made to oversee the Professional Units are not ready to yield to the Professional advice from the Vehicle Inspection Officer who process the required skills and knowledge. 

It is therefore pertinent to remind the FCTA that the public service is structured 

in such a manner that no "CADRE" should be put at disadvantage in order to 

favour another Cadre. In the real sense and going by current operations of 

Directorates of FCT Road Traffic Services, the vehicle Inspection Officers 

Cadre had been put at disadvantage over Administrative officers cadre as they 

are no longer allowed to progress to the position of the Director in the 

Directorate of FCT Road Traffic Services as such vacancies had been filled by 

the Administrative Officer's contrary to the approved scheme of service.

Finally, there is urgent need to bring to the notice of the FCTA that the recent 

lunch of the "SELF SERVICE PORTAL" that the motive had been defeated as 

it has failed to accomplish the purpose. Instead, the plate numbers are allocated 

to the highest bidder and the excess money are not remitted to the revenue 

account as earlier proposed. 

In the light of the afore-mentioned obstacles and challenges militating against the effective operations of the FCT Road Traffic Services, the management is 

requested to note and review the needed activities of FCT, Road Traffic 

Services, Department to be in line with the operation of other States in the 

country and enhance the effective service delivery in the Federal Capital 

Territory. 

The operation should be structured to fall in line with one public Service in which cadres of all professionals are followed strictly from the bottom to the top. 

 "We urge the minister to take immediate action to ensure that the approved scheme of service for vehicle inspections officers is being followed. This is vital to ensuring the safety of motorists and pedestrians in the FCT.