L a g o s g o v t , F e d e r a l T a s k F o r c e c l a s h o v e r a u t h o r i t y By Clifford Ejenavi Date Published 10/11/2014 The National Coordinator, Sure-P/FERMA Federal Task Force, Alh. Abdulrazak Rafiu, popularly known as ‘Otto’, has lambasted the Lagos State government over what he described as monopoly, selfish and impostor governance by the state who in a press release recently labeled the Federal Task Force illegal after they were deployed on the federal roads across the state to perform their duties. Infuriated by the Lagos State government’s press release, Rafiu in a statement signed by the National Director of Publicity of the Federal Taskforce, Mr. Olawale Oyeboh and were made available to Nigerian NewsDirect, said, “If we are illegal, then why did the federal government not stop our operations or activities since we have been recruiting. Let’s look at it from this perspective; is it possible for a group of people without the federal government’s approval to name themselves Federal Task Force in a country where we have the Judiciary, the SSS, the Police and all other security operatives? “We are all aware that through this empower-ment programme, subsidy re-investment and empowerment programme established by President Jonathan, is to create employment for all Nigerian citizens in the state.” Rafiu further reiterated that there has been several requests by Lagos residents, road users and various road transport unions including the Okada riders anticipating that the Federal Task Force should resume operation on federal roads in Lagos. According to him, most Lagosians said they can no longer bear the extortionist ways, attitude and system of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA ) officials, reminding the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunda Fashola of the 2004 court ruling that the state transport management authority jurisdiction doesn’t permit them to operate on the federal roads in the state. “The Federal Task Force has nothing against the LASTMA officers but we are only reminding them to remain on their state roads. As we all know, they are known as the Lagos State Transport Management Authority and should allow the Federal Task Force perform their civil right and duties in a bid to manage and maintain traffic across Lagos Federal roads and to also recover for the Federal Government the proper-ties that have been stolen and manipulated by the state government and any individuals including the Fashola led government and his political godfather to the hand over to the federal government.” The Federal Taskforce boss also stated, “How can trained and educated graduates seeking jobs be used by any political group or party to cause confusion? Many of these Federal Task Force recruited officers are intellectuals, reliable youths and adults looking for means of livelihood. They appreciate this empowerment programme initiated by Mr. President as a yardstick of creating employment opportunities. “So, why should the Lagos State Governor stand boldly and call your wife, your father or my father and our future leaders, who are seeking for this job, political thugs? If someone called his daughter or son a thug, how do you think he (Governor Fashola) will feel? In this regard, I appeal to all Lagos residents and parents to reject and send back to sender this very costly and expensive statement made by our so called Lagos State Governor. Patience is said to be a very good tool. So, my advice to all my Federal Task Force officers and the general populace would be let’s exercise a little patience with President Jonathan as plans to deploy Federal Taskforce officers on the federal roads in Lagos are perfectly in place in the next few weeks. Mr. President is providing for the Federal Task Force all required support from the Nigeria police, the State Security Service (SSS), the civil defense and all other security agencies to work with us.” Rafiu therefore warned that though they did not have any problem with the Lagos State government but any attempt by any group or individuals to interrupt the operations of the Federal Taskforce officers should be ready to face the wrath of the

but why is the president keeping mute towards federal task force..
He should commission it and see how things will work out on time to stop all this embarrassment and harrassment coming from the state governor and his lastma standing.
Anyway it s welll...
Did anyone recieved a call frm a federal civil service commission?

samobaba4u:
Even if sure-p is the one to pay you, there is due processes you follow. Don‘t be decieve. Untill there is law backing you, you are still a volountary organisation for now.
Check you profile on sure-p gis to know ur fate if there will be allawi for you from them and do d necesary documentation.
Aside this, i will say it again that all na, “YEYENATU“

why do you take panadol for another man headache I guess you are one of the sadist we have on this thread only time will tell to put you in shame.

emmysoftyou:
but why is the president keeping mute towards federal task force..
He should commission it and see how things will work out on time to stop all this embarrassment and harrassment coming from the state governor and his lastma standing.
Anyway it s welll...
Did anyone recieved a call frm a federal civil service commission?

the president is not keeping quiet this is politics wisdom is needed when politics is being played just relax and see how things is gradually take place.

ekemit:
the president is not keeping quiet this is politics wisdom is needed when politics is being played just relax and see how things is gradually take place.

yu re so confidence that this job has come to stay and i think i like yur faith....
Anyway i pray things work out as yu said...
Gradually...tanx

ekemit:
why do you take panadol for another man headache I guess you are one of the sadist we have on this thread only time will tell to put you in shame.

No problem bro, mind u i can‘t be put to shame. If u read my post and digest it u will understand. I am also an intern of sure-p and i know d process we went tru b4 you get paid. So if u are sure-p beneficiaries & u never do ds process, don‘t expect a dime from sure-p. Instead of you to act on ds info to perfect everything b4 d problems unfold, u r here waiting for when someone will be put to shame. All of u should ask questions from d state coordinators so u don‘t work for some ppl to enrich their own pocket. Some ppl have been working for months without payment on ds same sure-p. Only time will tell. Am waiting for testimonies & will rejoice with u guys. Best of luck to everyone.

samobaba4u:

No problem bro, mind u i can‘t be put to shame. If u read my post and digest it u will understand. I am also an intern of sure-p and i know d process we went tru b4 you get paid. So if u are sure-p beneficiaries & u never do ds process, don‘t expect a dime from sure-p. Instead of you to act on ds info to perfect everything b4 d problems unfold, u r here waiting for when someone will be put to shame. All of u should ask questions from d state coordinators so u don‘t work for some ppl to enrich their own pocket. Some ppl have been working for months without payment on ds same sure-p. Only time will tell. Am waiting for testimonies & will rejoice with u guys. Best of luck to everyone.

did I hear you said get paid?any money you receive from anyone is not from federal govt,it is from the money they generated illegally from the applicants,you should not expect to be paid immediately most govt jobs you don't get paid up till 3months later you will be paid accumulatively.I also went through stress just that as a man you need to have a lion heart nothing good come easily.my point is,it is not a scam,just that politics has made it very difficult to start operation,plz don't get me wrong.

emmysoftyou:

The president should intervene immediately and be honest with ferma sure p applicant than playing politics with them...

FERMA denied Ferderal Task Force times without number. Federal Govt. wont intervene at all they choose to keep quiet cos. they seems to be threat to APC.
Paid 3k for form for a friend early this year but when we got there I was very disappointed cos they were so disorganized and seems more of tout than govt workers.
You guys should stop deceiving yourselves and move on.

I noticed the following as well
Non of the top officials seems learned, they look more like NURTW members.
All their cars are private owned with sticker indicating Federal Task Force. Non of the cars are new or have govt plate number.
The earlier stickers had FERMA logo but was removed when they were denied by FERMA officials.
Recruitment is still ongoing and you get recruited as long as you have your money. Nobody cares about your qualification or age

^^^^^...god bless u dis poster above me.uv simply laid it bare.a new organization under the federal govt cant even boast of a brand new car??and they keep recruiting,and keep collecting money from applicants.it pains me to see the level we have descended to.my prayer is for this process to be normalised and these applicants to be absorbed one way or the other.speculations here and there is worrisome...it is well

Up till today they`r still recruiting without checking the physical statue and age of applicant, many short short people allover

Once u have ur money dem go give u there yeye form. This there second year running oooo. They keep posting people. If u see the way the so called tout ooooooops Oga dem dey use there money chop bokoto for office. They are pure scam. Nobody recongnise them both SURE-P and FERMA.

Papse:
Up till today they`r still recruiting without checking the physical statue and age of applicant, many short short people allover

This bolded got me laughing. it was one of the things that got me deterred from the job. How can a government agency recruit me? if you see me ehn, i short pass anything. Anywayz, Thank God i got a job already.

hahaha. U re funny,if yu re short,show us ur pix..
pichure or adonbilivit

If they are truly sure-p connected, the applicant should have know by now. If u status remain not yet matched, u are on ur own oooo.

house any geneuin gist abt federal task force recently?
frm d litle rumour i heard,they said they wil deploy federal task force alongside with arm men on federal road nxt month.
How true it s

anyway kipin hope alive with time...

emmysoftyou:
house any geneuin gist abt federal task force recently?
frm d litle rumour i heard,they said they wil deploy federal task force alongside with arm men on federal road nxt month.
How true it s

anyway kipin hope alive with time...

you've got served, broda...im 100% sure, noffin for you, they ve preyed on your mumuity, and fed you with your ignorance,...now its at the stage they wont tell you directly to leave,na you go leave yourself...

Hayjaycity:


you've got served, broda...im 100% sure, noffin for you, they ve preyed on your mumuity, and fed you with your ignorance,...now its at the stage they wont tell you directly to leave,na you go leave yourself...

bro to me i gat nutin to lose...
life goes on...
But let me tell you,i aint put my life on it like my life depended on it ...
What i want is information,a strong information to know if there is hope or not then we move on
but to me bro,i see it as a 2nd option if the first one am eyeing didnt work out and precise,i didnt buy the uniform neither did i spend much on the rest of the requirement nd form..

However,if civil defence corp could work out afta several years of a patience and hopes then there is every tendency that federal task force wil not be different too...
All is well....ogadinma...

emmysoftyou:
bro to me i gat nutin to lose...
life goes on...
But let me tell you,i aint put my life on it like my life depended on it ...
What i want is information,a strong information to know if there is hope or not then we move on
but to me bro,i see it as a 2nd option if the first one am eyeing didnt work out and precise,i didnt buy the uniform neither did i spend much on the rest of the requirement nd form..

However,if civil defence corp could work out afta several years of a patience and hopes then there is every tendency that federal task force wil not be different too...
All is well....ogadinma...

the main fact about the whole situation is this.....federal task force is illegal because it is not backed up by the constitution, before ot can br regarded as legal or likely to be backed by the constition, the bill to establish it should be in the national assembly after being presented by the president, buh nothing like that is happening, and the funds to pay salaries of the workers will have to be in d budget, by the constitution that backed it up. you cant compare it with FRSC, NSCDC, etc, because they are established and backed up by the constition...buh, this one is not, the bill to establish it is not in the constituion, and next year is around the cornet, which means, budget for 2015 has been prepared already, and what is not backed up by the constitution cant be included 8n the budget unless GEJ wants to pay your salaries with the missing 20$ billion. i do not see this leading anywhere broda. they want to use you guys for election and politics...

@hayjaycity.i respect your views but i think you need to be enightened.
-does the constitution recognise sure p and ferma
- does the federal govt need legislative approval to recruit new workers?
-have you bothered to ask yourself why it was named SURE P FERMA TASKFORCE?the reason is to solve two major problems they may encounter which include
OPERATIONAL-FERMA.remember ferma has the mandate to maintain federal highways
FINANCE-SURE P.subvention to the organisation will be made through sure p.y do you think BRF has not gone to court to challenge the establishment of this tskforce.

alen4smith:
@hayjaycity.i respect your views but i think you need to be enightened.
-does the constitution recognise sure p and ferma
- does the federal govt need legislative approval to recruit new workers?
-have you bothered to ask yourself why it was named SURE P FERMA TASKFORCE?the reason is to solve two major problems they may encounter which include
OPERATIONAL-FERMA.remember ferma has the mandate to maintain federal highways
FINANCE-SURE P.subvention to the organisation will be made through sure p.y do you think BRF has not gone to court to challenge the establishment of this tskforce.

your answer is simple...ferma cannot establish a federak task force o n federal highways without the apprpval of the constitution becaus ferma is not a revenue generating government agency, therefore any task force that it established, must be backed by the constitution and its fundings will be from the national budget.....i still say it, all of una don enter one chance

Vacate all Federal roads, Fed Task Force orders LASTMAPosted by:Olalekan AyeniinTransportation5 days agoAs it gears up to take over traffic management on all federal roads, the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P)/FERMA Federal Task Force has directedthe Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to vacate all federal roads in the state. It said any attack on his men may spark a row with the Federal Government.It said LASTMA should respect the 2004 court ruling which said that its jurisdiction does not extend to federal roads in thestate.Speaking in his office last week, the National Coordinator of the Task Force Alhaji Abdulrazak Rafiu-Otto, said LASTMA should allow his officers and men to perform the duties for which they were employed. He stated that the men’s duties were the management and maintainance of traffic across all federal roads in Lagos and the recovery of all Federal Government properties and infrastructure in the state.Rafiu-Otto, who insisted that the Task Force has nothing against LASTMA, appealed that the latter stay off federal roadsand concentrate efforts of its officers and men to ridding the state roads of the traffic gridlock that is intractable in the state. He said his agency would be willing to collaborate with LASTMA in the overall objective of riding the state of gridlocks.Wondering why the state government would raise a false alarm on the activities of his men, Rafiu-Otto said the agency was not illegal, as it was created by President Goodluck Jonathan as part of the SURE-P initiative which has provided jobs for thousands of Nigerian youths.He said there is no truth in the allegations that the Task Force is a band of political thugs recruited to prosecute the 2015 election, saying such claims was aimed at causing violence and confusion.He said “The officers recruited by the Federal Task Force are not thugs, but unemployed graduates and adults looking for a means of livelihood and they all appreciated that the empowerment is already yielding fruits.” He wondered why theFederal Government has not ejected them from its premises atthe old toll gate site if they were illegal.He said arrangements are almost concluded to have PresidentJonathan inaugurate the Federal Task Force and deploy them to all federal roads across the country.“This would be perfected in a matter of weeks. What we are all waiting for is the necessary basic support from the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Security (DSS), the Civil Defence and all other security agencies to work with the newlyestablished body,” Rafiu-Otto said.

**yimu**....experience is the best teacher though...because i dont know when the lagos state government cried to the FG that it can' manage the road and road traffic within the state, and mind you, the issue of road traffic management in each state is on the recurrent list, and not in the exclusive list,anyway, the third mainland bridge is a federal government road i will be happy to see you guyz amazingly managing the traffic on the bridge...i cant wait to y'all there. i still say it....#UnaDonEnterOneChance.....

dont be sarcastic and abusive bro(yimu)....
To me what will be will be...
Weting go DEY go DEY....o...
Na jus tyme o
i no fit shout o

Hayjaycity:
**yimu**....experience is the best teacher though...because i dont know when the lagos state government cried to the FG that it can' manage the road and road traffic within the state, and mind you, the issue of road traffic management in each state is on the recurrent list, and not in the exclusive list,anyway, the third mainland bridge is a federal government road i will be happy to see you guyz amazingly managing the traffic on the bridge...i cant wait to y'all there. i still say it....#UnaDonEnterOneChance.....

bro y are u carrying it on ur head? Leave us alone itz our choice . Therez nothing wrong in giving a try. By the time it works itz pple like u hat will start regretting why u didn't join cos thatz the same process my uncle had with NSCDC when his friend was telling him to collect form he refused that it was fake. Till today he keeps regretting . Av done all my registration and I must follow them to the end cos they no born Govt well to just send us away because if they try am all those office go catch fire

clemz88:
bro y are u carrying it on ur head? Leave us alone itz our choice . Therez nothing wrong in giving a try. By the time it works itz pple like u hat will start regretting why u didn't join cos thatz the same process my uncle had with NSCDC when his friend was telling him to collect form he refused that it was fake. Till today he keeps regretting . Av done all my registration and I must follow them to the end cos they no born Govt well to just send us away because if they try am all those office go catch fire

Is there no clear difference between NSCDC and your FERMA SUREP TASK FORCE ? NSCDC was born decades ago by the military to be involved in civil cases,and to carry civilians along in thr security of the states properties, with the main aim of elongating their stay then, and recently it was jst reformed to serve the teeming populace and nigeria grows...even if you like try set office on fire, na the same government go send troops come disperse you away..remember the subsidy removal protests..., now my question is, do you guyz want to be cobtrolling traffic or what, because most federal roads which are called the trunk A roads are express and highways...and they are not much...now do they want to deploy y'all to these ever busy roads?...all of you that i heard there was no categorisation in your recruitment, all onds, hndz, and bsc are parked together to be deployed to roads...intellect is not at play here o! at all....buh i dey watch sha....you've gotta have plans B o...this your parole wey FG or the presidency has nit mentioned about it even despite coming to Lagos apart fron your otto coordinator wey don master the plan for you against d next election, they will jst use you to say they provided job for the unemployed in the country...afyer election, your coordinator go travel out, FG wilk send troops down your office and thats the end...you know as GEJ dey do nah. you have all been done...and remember that you can only last as GEJ last. Even LASTMA, VIO, FRSC, NIS, CUSTOMS, NSCDC ETC were established and backed up by the constitution, which makes their operations legal...if your matter no dey National Assembly now subjected to approval, begore funds made available for payment of salaries..you guyz dey try sha....even take a look at the SUREP GRADUATE INTERNSHIP SCHEME...Do uou kbow how the interns were jst beingdeceived and paid less than d amount promised them....make una wise up o...if i wete you sha...i would have left sharp sharp...i hate being taken for a ride....#UnaDonEnterOneChance..

clemz88:
bro y are u carrying it on ur head? Leave us alone itz our choice . Therez nothing wrong in giving a try. By the time it works itz pple like u hat will start regretting why u didn't join cos thatz the same process my uncle had with NSCDC when his friend was telling him to collect form he refused that it was fake. Till today he keeps regretting . Av done all my registration and I must follow them to the end cos they no born Govt well to just send us away because if they try am all those office go catch fire

On whose side are u really on Mr? One minute u're castigating the scheme and whipping up all sorts of arguments to prove that it's some big joke; and the next, u're acting like a FERMA sure-p loyalist, defending them as if ur life depended on their existence, just as u've just done now.

all the partakers have been SURE-Ped!!!!

@hayjaycity you claim to know everything but going through your post i think its needless engaging you in any kind of arguement.but MR KNOWITALL" it is called CONCURRENT" not RECURRENT.moreso i dont think you understand what i ws trying to say i guess you are a slow learner.what i meant ws does the federal govt need legislative backing to employ into FERMA or SURE P. remember these are already existing agencies recognised by the constitution.besides what is happening in toll gate according to the law is recruitment into existing agency(FERMA) to be funded by sure p under its social safety net programme.moreso you said traffic control is under the concurrent list.i.e both the federal and state govt can legislate on items in this list.but i want to ask you,when there is clash of interest between the federal and state govt in the concurrent list which one is upheld?

alen4smith:
@hayjaycity you claim to know everything but going through your post i think its needless engaging you in any kind of arguement.but MR KNOWITALL" it is called CONCURRENT" not RECURRENT.moreso i dont think you understand what i ws trying to say i guess you are a slow learner.what i meant ws does the federal govt need legislative backing to employ into FERMA or SURE P. remember these are already existing agencies recognised by the constitution.besides what is happening in toll gate according to the law is recruitment into existing agency(FERMA) to be funded by sure p under its social safety net programme.moreso you said traffic control is under the concurrent list.i.e both the federal and state govt can legislate on items in this list.but i want to ask you,when there is clash of interest between the federal and state govt in the concurrent list which one is upheld?

OHKAY....BUT WAS THERE ANY CLASH OF INTEREST AT ALL BETWEEN D FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, IF SO, AND THE FEDERAL IS UPHELD AS YOU SAID THEN THAT MEANS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENY WILL HAVE TO CANCEL THE LIKES OF LASTMA, CBD OFFICIALS, WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE...STOP SOOTHING YOURSELVES....YOU ONLY GOT JUST FEW MONTHS IN THOSE BLACK TEE-SHIRTS.....REMEMBER THERE IS NO EVEN ANY UNIFORM FOR YOU GUYZ....

Broda abi ooh.. Considering the level of gu**ibi**ty (yeyeriti) Nigeria graduate exhibit evry now and then, I agree wit those pple that says our educational system is nothing to write home about..
I jus dey wonder are ds pple really graduate??
Looking @d matter holistically we now see not even 100naira has been spend by d SURE P, applicant paid for all dey got their, forms, uniform witout allowance nor stipends...

#UnaDonEnterOneChance..

**IDonVexSha

#GodBlessUjaree

Hayjaycity:


Is there no clear difference between NSCDC and your FERMA SUREP TASK FORCE ? NSCDC was born decades ago by the military to be involved in civil cases,and to carry civilians along in thr security of the states properties, with the main aim of elongating their stay then, and recently it was jst reformed to serve the teeming populace and nigeria grows...even if you like try set office on fire, na the same government go send troops come disperse you away..remember the subsidy removal protests..., now my question is, do you guyz want to be cobtrolling traffic or what, because most federal roads which are called the trunk A roads are express and highways...and they are not much...now do they want to deploy y'all to these ever busy roads?...all of you that i heard there was no categorisation in your recruitment, all onds, hndz, and bsc are parked together to be deployed to roads...intellect is not at play here o! at all....buh i dey watch sha....you've gotta have plans B o...this your parole wey FG or the presidency has nit mentioned about it even despite coming to Lagos apart fron your otto coordinator wey don master the plan for you against d next election, they will jst use you to say they provided job for the unemployed in the country...afyer election, your coordinator go travel out, FG wilk send troops down your office and thats the end...you know as GEJ dey do nah. you have all been done...and remember that you can only last as GEJ last. Even LASTMA, VIO, FRSC, NIS, CUSTOMS, NSCDC ETC were established and backed up by the constitution, which makes their operations legal...if your matter no dey National Assembly now subjected to approval, begore funds made available for payment of salaries..you guyz dey try sha....even take a look at the SUREP GRADUATE INTERNSHIP SCHEME...Do uou kbow how the interns were jst beingdeceived and paid less than d amount promised them....make una wise up o...if i wete you sha...i would have left sharp sharp...i hate being taken for a ride....#UnaDonEnterOneChance..