Makinde hails promotion of 102 officers as mark of quality service

Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor 

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday described the decoration ceremony for 102 newly promoted officers of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority as a testament to quality service delivery and the agency’s steady institutional growth. The ceremony, held at the Local Government Staff Training Hall, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, marked the formal elevation of officers across four grade levels following the authority’s 2024 promotion exercise. Represented by the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Dr. Olabode Ladipo, the governor congratulated the officers and their families on the milestone and said the decoration reflected the quality of service for which OYRTMA is known. He noted that the officers had been carefully observed and found worthy of elevation, adding that the promotions further affirmed the full integration of OYRTMA into the core civil service structure of Oyo State.

The promotion exercise produced four categories of elevation. Twenty-five officers were elevated from Principal Road Traffic Officer to Assistant Chief Road Traffic Officer on Grade Level 12 to 13. Eleven officers were promoted from Principal Road Traffic Superintendent II to Principal Road Traffic Superintendent I on Grade Level 10 to 12. Sixteen officers were upgraded from Road Traffic Superintendent to Principal Road Traffic Superintendent II on Grade Level 9 to 10. Fifty officers were promoted from Road Traffic Officer II to Road Traffic Officer I on Grade Level 8 to 9. Governor Makinde said the officers advancing to Grade Levels 13, 12, 10 and nine were now fully recognised within the state’s civil service, and he expressed optimism that some of them would rise to the highest levels of service in the coming years.

The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, who was represented by the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Dr. Bode Ladipo, charged the newly promoted officers to justify their elevation through improved performance, greater commitment and effective traffic management across the state. He said the government expected the promotion to translate into visible improvements in traffic management and road safety. He urged the officers to ensure that their activities on the roads encouraged residents to obey traffic regulations and embrace a safety-conscious culture. Professor Babatunde described the promotion as a recognition of meritorious service and a demonstration of the government’s commitment to the career progression of OYRTMA personnel.

The Executive Chairman of OYRTMA, Major Adesagba Adekoya (retd.), disclosed that 102 officers were found worthy of elevation in the authority’s 2024 promotion exercise. He expressed appreciation to Governor Makinde for his commitment to the welfare and career advancement of officers, describing the gesture as evidence of the government’s recognition of a motivated workforce as a foundation for effective service delivery. He said the promotion would further encourage officers to remain dedicated to their duties and contribute to the authority’s mandate of ensuring orderly traffic management across the state. He congratulated the newly promoted officers and urged them to see their elevation as an opportunity to contribute more to the development of the agency. The General Manager of OYRTMA, Mr. Adekola Adeoye, also congratulated the officers and their families, and presented an award to the chairman in recognition of his contributions to the development of the authority.

Delivering her goodwill message, the Head of Service, Dr. Adenike Fashina, who was represented by the General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service Agency, Venerable Akinyinka Adeyemi, congratulated the officers and encouraged them to sustain their commitment to the state. The ceremony underscored the Makinde administration’s broader push to reform the state’s public service and address the career stagnation that had characterised previous years. Thousands of civil servants who had stagnated in one position for years have been promoted under the current administration, and annual promotion exercises have not only been restored but also fast-tracked in line with civil service rules. The governor has repeatedly emphasised that a motivated workforce is essential to effective service delivery, and the OYRTMA decorations are the latest expression of that philosophy.

Adekoya outlined key reforms achieved since his appointment in October 2023 to reposition the authority for greater efficiency. These include a reformed enforcement philosophy featuring enlightenment sessions for traffic offenders before trial, the establishment of OYRTMA Special Marshals and Youth Volunteers with 100 volunteers inaugurated, the creation of the Road Traffic Offences Tribunal in collaboration with the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, the expansion of operational bases across the state, and the commissioning of the refurbished Zonal Headquarters in Oyo town. Other reforms include the recruitment and training of 500 new officers, the introduction of the QR Code Jacket policy for over 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, strategic collaborations with the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigeria Police, Amotekun Corps, Operation Burst, the Vehicle Inspection Office and the Park Management System, the creation of three additional statutory directorates, and the emergence of OYRTMA as the Best Agency in Oyo State in 2025.

The promotion of 102 officers is significant beyond its immediate impact on the beneficiaries. It signals the consolidation of OYRTMA’s integration into the state’s civil service framework, a process that has given officers clearer career pathways and greater recognition. It also reflects the administration’s emphasis on merit-based advancement, a departure from the irregular patterns that previously undermined morale in the public service. The governor’s message to the officers was clear: the promotion is a call to higher responsibility. He urged them to remain diligent in reducing road carnage and promoting safer road use across the state. The government expects the elevation to translate into tangible improvements on the roads, with residents becoming more law-abiding and a stronger safety culture taking root in Oyo State.

For the officers, the decoration ceremony represents both a reward and a challenge. They have been elevated on the strength of their service, and they are now expected to deliver at a higher level. The Oyo State Government has made it clear that the promotion is not merely a ceremonial exercise but a tool for improving performance. The coming months will show whether the newly promoted officers rise to the occasion and whether the reforms championed by the OYRTMA leadership continue to yield results. For now, the government has sent a clear message: quality service will be recognised and rewarded. The 102 officers who walked into the hall as Principal Road Traffic Officers, Superintendents and Road Traffic Officers have walked out with new ranks, new responsibilities and a renewed mandate to serve the people of Oyo State.

📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com

✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews