Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has described the promotion of 102 officers of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) as a reflection of quality service delivery and the steady institutional development of the agency.
Makinde stated this on Thursday during the decoration ceremony for the newly promoted officers held at the Local Government Staff Training Hall, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan. The governor was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Olabode Ladipo.
The governor congratulated the officers and their families on the promotion, saying their elevation followed a process in which their performance and service records were considered.
According to him, the promotion further demonstrates the integration of OYRTMA into the core civil service structure of Oyo State. He noted that officers promoted to Grade Levels 13, 12, 10 and nine are now fully recognised within the state’s civil service structure.
Makinde also commended the management of OYRTMA for reforms introduced to improve the agency’s operations. He urged the newly promoted officers to remain committed to their responsibilities, particularly in reducing road crashes, improving traffic management and promoting safer road use across the state.
The Head of Service, Adenike Fashina, represented at the ceremony by the General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service Agency, Akinyinka Adeyemi, also congratulated the beneficiaries and encouraged them to maintain their commitment to public service.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of OYRTMA, Major Adekoya Adesagba (retd.), expressed appreciation to Governor Makinde for approving the promotions and supporting the welfare and career progression of officers within the authority.
Adesagba explained that the 102 promotions covered four categories. Twenty-five officers were elevated from Principal Road Traffic Officer to Assistant Chief Road Traffic Officer, moving from Grade Level 12 to 13.
Another 11 officers were promoted from Principal Road Traffic Superintendent II to Principal Road Traffic Superintendent I, moving from Grade Level 10 to 12. Sixteen officers were upgraded from Road Traffic Superintendent to Principal Road Traffic Superintendent II, while 50 officers moved from Road Traffic Officer II to Road Traffic Officer I.
The OYRTMA chairman also outlined several reforms implemented since his appointment in October 2023. These include changes to the authority’s enforcement approach, with enlightenment sessions introduced for traffic offenders before trial.
The authority has also established OYRTMA Special Marshals and Youth Volunteers, with 100 volunteers inaugurated, while a Road Traffic Offences Tribunal was created in collaboration with the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority.
Other initiatives highlighted include the expansion of operational bases across the state, the refurbishment of the OYRTMA zonal headquarters in Oyo town and the recruitment and training of 500 new officers.
The authority has also introduced a QR Code Jacket policy for more than 32,000 commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT and E-Governance.
Adesagba said OYRTMA had strengthened cooperation with the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Police Force, Amotekun Corps, Operation Burst, Vehicle Inspection Officers and the Park Management System as part of efforts to improve traffic management and enforcement.
He further disclosed that three additional statutory directorates had been created: Operations and Enforcement; Rescue, Recovery and Incident Management; and Engineering and Logistics. These additions brought the number of OYRTMA directorates to five.
The chairman urged the newly promoted officers to regard their elevation not only as recognition of their previous service but also as a call to greater responsibility.
He charged them to contribute to free traffic flow, reduction of road crashes and the promotion of a stronger culture of road safety across Oyo State.
The ceremony was attended by government officials, service chiefs, representatives of security agencies and other stakeholders, including the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto; Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Kamorudeen Aderibigbe; and Chairperson of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, Justice Aderonke Aderemi (retd.).
The promotion exercise comes amid continuing efforts by the Oyo State Government to strengthen its public service institutions and improve the capacity of agencies responsible for essential services, including road traffic management.
