The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Special Marshals in Lagos State have emphasised the need for sound financial management practices to enhance accountability, transparency, and operational efficiency across units.
This formed the focus of the 2026 Second Quarter Special Marshals Training Programme for State Executives, Unit Coordinators, Treasurers, and Financial Secretaries, held on Saturday at the Apostolic Church, Lawna Headquarters, Ketu, Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that theme of the training is “Enhancing Financial Efficiency, Accountability and Transparency for Special Marshals.”Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Coordinator of Special Marshals, Dr Olabisi Dennis, described financial accountability as the backbone of any credible and effective organisation.
Dennis said the training was aimed at strengthening the financial management capacity of officers, improving reporting standards, and promoting transparency in all financial dealings.“This training is a call to responsibility. Participants are expected to apply the knowledge gained here to ensure better financial practices in their respective units,” he said.
Also speaking, the Sector Commander, FRSC RS2.1 Lagos, Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, noted that the theme of the programme was both timely and critical to the continued growth of the corps.Hamzat was represented by the Deputy Sector Commander Emma Fekoya.
He stressed that with the increasing responsibilities of Special Marshals, strong accountability mechanisms must be in place to safeguard the integrity and image of the organisation.“Every kobo entrusted to leadership must be judiciously managed and properly accounted for,” Hamzat said.
A resource person at the training, Mr. Adekunle Adelaja, also a special marshall, delivered a comprehensive lecture on best practices in bookkeeping, financial record management, and reporting standards.Adelaja described bookkeeping as the systematic recording and organisation of financial transactions, noting that accuracy, completeness, and timeliness were critical to maintaining reliable financial records.
He emphasised that all financial entries must be supported by valid source documents such as receipts, invoices, and contracts to ensure transparency and accountability.According to him, proper bookkeeping enhances audit processes, prevents fraud, and supports informed decision-making.
He listed essential financial records to include cashbooks, general ledgers, bank statements, payment vouchers, receipt books, and asset registers.Adelaja also highlighted key best practices such as maintaining up-to-date records, using standardised systems, separating personal and official finances, conducting regular bank reconciliation, and preparing periodic financial reports.
On roles and responsibilities, he explained that the Financial Secretary is responsible for documentation and preparation of payment vouchers, while the Treasurer serves as the custodian of funds, responsible for disbursement and record-keeping.
He stressed the principle of “no documentation, no payment,” noting that every financial transaction must be properly approved and supported by documentation.Adelaja further underscored the importance of segregation of duties between financial officers to reduce the risk of fraud and errors.
The resource person also spoke on financial reporting standards, stating that quarterly reports should be prepared within two to four weeks after each quarter, while annual reports should be completed within two to three months after the financial year.He added that reports must follow recognised accounting standards and include proper documentation to ensure accuracy and comparability.
Adelaja introduced participants to digital financial record-keeping tools, including accounting software such as QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage, as well as spreadsheet and cloud-based platforms.He said the adoption of digital tools would improve efficiency, accuracy, accessibility, and security in financial operations.
NAN reports that the Special Marshals Scheme is a volunteer arm of the FRSC established to support traffic management and road safety enforcement nationwide.The training is expected to improve financial discipline, strengthen internal controls, and enhance transparency across Special Marshals units in Lagos State.
