The Buhari phenomenon which has become the parlance in our national discourse is no doubt catching up with everyone in the saddle at all federal establishments across Nigeria. The new order is anchored on strict compliance with the laid down procedure; the sanctity of the rule of law.

But it is not that the procedures themselves are new inclusion to our statue books, rather, they are foundations for the emergence of our nation as an entity. As some analysts would ask, what are rules without a strong leader to invoke same for the benefit of all? So it was that the nation gropes through centuries of darkness. However, the rainbow is now crystal in the sky; it is morning again here and everybody is falling into line.

However, in our dark, starless past, there were some twinkles even if few between the lines, especially in some departments, where Buhari phenomenon had held sway. Among such organisations, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) would hold its head high, where others would tip-toe through the crowd in this respect.

Since its creation, the FRSC has been headed by personalities who, like our dear president, are people of high moral standing within our immediate society and beyond. From the world renowned literary scholar, Professor Wole Soyinka who served as the pioneer Chairman of the Governing Council when Dr Agunloye was the Corps Marshal, to Boboye Olayemi Oyeyemi, the current head of the organisation, there is no doubt, that FRSC has distinguished itself as one of the public institutions that thrive on law and order.

FRSC is regarded today as an example of a high performing public agency in Nigeria, providing leadership to other such institutions across Africa and its headships have become role models in safety matters the world over. As the former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida said, FRSC is a world class public institution, which has become "a pride of the nation." And with a moralist who shares the same values with the president at its saddle, the Corps can only continue to be a reference point of change in the way a public institution should be run.

For unlike in the past, when its leadership was entrusted to those referred within the establishment as "outsiders", Oyeyemi was one of the foundation officers of the FRSC when it was established some 27 years ago. That was why his appointment drew accolades from across the country with majority of Nigerians describing it as "well deserved." Prior to his appointment on 23 July 2014, Boboye Olayemi Oyeyemi had headed all the departments and served in most of the strategic zonal commands in the FRSC with distinct results. He had received trainings and attended several courses at home and abroad which prepared him well for the tasks. His excellent performances in the FRSC saw him receiving the "Best Performing Head of Department" for five consecutive years.

And the Kwara-born road safety administrator not only possess the requisite experience to take the Corps through the new route, but has acquired educational qualifications which enabled him to do so with ease. Oyeyemi's first policy decision after his appointment, which earned him a standing ovation from generality of the staff was his enunciation of the principles of Consultation, Reward and Punishment (CRP) as the tripod upon which his management vision was anchored. "I will consult widely within and outside the FRSC for excellent results; recognise and reward excellent performances by staff; but I will not condone indolence, corruption and indiscipline which I would punish sternly," he stated at his first management retreat.

Within a month of his assumption of office, he had succeeded in removing the existing dichotomy between regular and converted officers to pave the way for unrestricted career growth for all officers. "For the avoidance of doubt, Management has removed forthwith the dichotomy between regular and converted officers with Bachelor degree or its equivalent to make it possible for all officers to reach the peak of the rank guaranteed by age and performances," he announced, to a standing ovation from participants at the World Bank sponsored staff capacity development course at the FRSC Academy Udi, Enugu State. And when he launched the "One Staff, One House" scheme, to create opportunity of house ownership for all staff, he stated: "We would work hard to ensure that every staff of FRSC owns a house he can retire to."

Oyeyemi sustained his aggressive pursuit of staff welfare policies with the launch of the "post service scheme," which ensures compulsory savings by staff to prepare them for post service life. "I hate to see staff retiring into helplessness. I therefore, vouch on my integrity, that nothing would happen to any staff's contribution which he will collect intact as he retires," he assures staff during a parley with them. An experienced operational strategist, he engages staff in field commands whenever he visited a state to meet with the governors on road safety matters. "Road safety is a shared responsibility and requires political will of government at all levels to succeed," he always told them.

As the Corps Marshal, he demonstrated his capacity for proactive actions and expertise in operational matters when he proactively initiated the idea of meeting with the critical stakeholders in road transport business for collaboration against road traffic crashes from the earliest part of the year. In the course of the visits, the idea of organising mega rallies in major motor parks across the country to sensitise drivers and members of the public on road safety matters was conceived. This led to the flagging off of the programme at Ojota Motor Park, Lagos with all relevant stakeholders in attendance.

Ironically, it was while the campaign was on that the nation witnessed the first fatal tanker crash in the year on 31st May 2015 at Onitsha, Anambra State claiming about 46 lives and several houses and vehicles. Disturbed by the tragedy and other fatal crashes in parts of the country, Oyeyemi's management convened the National Summit on Haulage Operations where a plan of action against tanker crashes was drawn up. Consequently, the Corps embarked on retraining and recertification of tanker/trailer drivers at nine centres across the country, after the exercise was flagged off at the Orile area of Lagos State on 4 July 2015. FRSC under Oyeyemi's leadership has been recognised beyond the shores of Nigeria, as a high performance organisation with robust stakeholders' commitment.

-Abdullahi is media assistant to the corps marshal, FRSC