Transport Union Lauds RSG Over TIMARIV’s Disbandment

The bold step taken by
the Rivers State Government to disband the Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMARIV)  has been described as a welcome development  even as Governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike is commended for the gesture.
The Chairman of Rivers Transport Cooperative Union Limited, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Mr Sunday Binoye, gave the commendation in a chat with The Tide correspondent in his office recently.
Binoye said the ban had given motorists in the state a sigh of relief as the activities  of men of the agency had been constituting a lot of nuisance on the roads as they behaved like touts and hoodlums.
According to him, commercial transporters were mostly affected as they were humiliated and garassed before impounding their vehicles  even without specific offences committed, but all under the guise of enriching themselves.
He said the masses were happy and were driving freely and lawfully without the officers of TIMARIV, adding that there had been no road blocks or traffic congestions since their disbandment.
The union chairman noted that their behaviours had shown that they were not well trained on how to deal with members of the public politely, and that as a victim, TIMARIV officers had once claimed and threatened him that they were ‘Area boys’ recruited into the agency, and therefore could do anything and go free.
“That statement alone is unhealthy and unconstitutional for officers of government agency, but that if the government would like to rebrand, they should consult stakeholders for expressed advice and directives because as road users, we know them and their names and could recommend where necessary for improved and better services as enshrined in the decree that set them up.
He recalled that in the days gone bye, as a youth, before anybody would be recruited into such public office or duty, an investigation was being carried out down to his home town to ascertain the behaviour of that person, and that was why local government identification certificate was introduced and issued adding that, “character is paramount”.
Binoye also appealed to the government to consider people with credible, humane and learned characters to carry out the duties of the new TIMARIV, if the government deemed it fit to rebrand the outfit.

Collins Barasimeye