Oyo NURTW Finally Reacts To Proscription By Makinde’s Govt

By Abiodun Ogunrinde, Ibadan

The Oyo State Chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has condemned the proscription of the union by the state government, describing the action as “Illegal and a recipe for crisis.”

The Guardian reports that the Union said it expected the government to have ordered the arrest of the union’s “expelled member,” who was allegedly fomenting trouble.

It expressed surprise that the government wielded the big stick proscribed the union that had maintained peace in all parks and garages in the last eight years.

The union, however, called on all its members to remain calm and peaceful because the union’s National Secretariat and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had taken over the matter and would give directions on the next line of action.

Recall that CitymirrorNews had earlier reported that the State Governor on Friday, announced the
banning of the union. The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Bisi Ilaka, who read the statement said: “After today’s deliberation with security stakeholders’ meeting, involving security chiefs and government, we have resolved to proscribe the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) until further notice.

“All activities of the Union remain illegal henceforth. We urge the people to go about their lawful duties without fear of molestation, as
combined security task force in every community of the state, has been charged to take control and maintain peace and order. To this end, all parks in the state have been taken over by the state government with immediate effect.”

But reacting to the order, the state Union’s Chairman, Mr. Abideen Olajide, aka Ejiogbe, accused Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi Auxiliary of fomenting the crisis because he wanted a change of exco by force.

The union’s Secretary General, Comrade Sunday Yeye, told The Guardian that the union’s National
President, who is also the Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alhaji Najeem
Usman Yassin, had been informed of the development and had instructed all members to remain calm.