Urban Gridlocks: NGO Launches Traffic Control Support Corps

A non-governmental organisation, the Greater Virtue for Traffic Watch & Development Initiative (GVTWDI), has announced the establishment of the Traffic Control Support Corps (TCSC), an initiative to tackle the pervasive issue of urban traffic congestion.
Speaking to journalists, Chief Johnson Apla, the chairman of GVTWDI, highlighted the vision and motivation behind this groundbreaking initiative. He explained a long-standing injustice that has plagued the Traffic Warden Service (TWS) since 1990.
He said, “The crisis began when the then Assistant Inspector General of Police (Finance) arbitrarily slashed the salaries of Traffic Wardens by 50 per cent, citing inefficiency. This unilateral decision, which Chief Apla described as “ultra vires,” spurred a series of legal battles. In 1997, the Traffic Wardens sought redress at the Federal High Court, Kaduna, in Suit No. FHC/KD/CS/134/97. The court ruled 1999 that the Traffic Warden Service was an independent agency established by the Federal Government and was not a subsidiary of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
“Despite this ruling, confusion persisted as the Traffic Wardens appealed for further clarification. In 2000, the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/K/112/99 upheld the earlier judgment, affirming the autonomy of the Traffic Warden Service. However, the implications of this autonomy were not immediately realised, as the Nigeria Police continued to exert control over the Traffic Wardens.”
According to GVTWDI boss, the firm took up the cause in 2002, obtaining a writ of execution to enforce the court’s judgment. The organisation also sponsored the Traffic Warden Service Bill (HB 596), which the National Assembly passed. Despite this progress, the bill was not transmitted to the President for assent, delaying its implementation.
Chief Apla explained that establishing the TCSC is a continuation of GVTWDI’s efforts to realise the Traffic Warden Service’s autonomy fully. “The Police have ceased to be a traffic agency by law. Our mission is to reposition the Traffic Warden Service to its statutory function on the roads,” he said.
He further explained that the Traffic Control Support Corps is envisioned as an interim solution to support the few remaining Traffic Wardens while awaiting the TWS Bill’s permission and clarified that the TCSC is not intended to replace the TWS but to supplement its efforts.