By Kate Obande-Okewu
Abuja – The National Coordinator, SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, on Thursday in Abuja, awarded a fair grade in service delivery to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The SERVICOM Coordinator gave the score while presenting the SERVICOM Compliance Evaluation Report to the Corps Marshal FRSC, urging the corps to reduce incidents of touting in Driver’s Licencing Office.
Akajemeli noted that the evaluation was carried out in seven sector commands and advised the headquarters to ensure citizen focused service delivery.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the assessed Centres are: FCT Glass House Mabushi, Central Business District Licence Centre, Kano, Kwara, Enugu,Borno,Akwa-Ibom, and Oyo.
She added that the results were gathered from customer interviews, discussions with management, staff, desk research and general observations.
“It is important to note that the services of the Federal Road Safety Corps have improved in the last five years with the innovations put in place by the Corps Marshall.
“It was observed that centralisation of the production of driver’s licence has resulted in delays against 60 day standards in the issuance of driver’s licence especially sector commands.
“The waiting area at zone 7, Driver’s Licence Centre should be improved upon to make waiting for service by applicants more comfortable,” she said.
She also commended the organisations for giving preference to the aged while rendering their services and for clarity in display of cost and payment procedures.
She added that FRSC should decentralise production of driver’s licence to the zonal commands by setting up print farms in the zones, to reduce queues and hasten production.
Akajemeli also applauded FRSC Kano for creating a WhatsApp group to enable prompt dissemination of information and inclusivity of all officers.
In his response, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshall, FRSC, thanked SERVICOM for their observation and recommendations.
Oyeyemi said that, his administration was targeting two weeks for licence to be delivered to customers, adding that they were currently with 30 days ultimatum.
He blamed the states for most of the weaknesses observed by SERVICOM, stating that they were responsible for creating office environment conducive for customers to be comfortable.
He also charged the state commands to provide a unified centre for service takers to go and get their licences.
“I have fulfilled my responsibility beyond what it is supposed to be; many times we have had to bend our back to assist the states.
“We have cleared all the backlogs of driver’s licence and we are currently working with 30 days not 60 days anymore.
“For me, if the loopholes identified in the state commands were removed from the report, FRSC should be rated as a five star organisation,” Oyeyemi said.
The Oyeyemi, however, enjoined the SERVICOM boss and her team to come and lecture state commanders on service delivery at a Strategy session for commanders next week.
Furthermore, he promised to improve on the identified weaknesses.(NAN)