The National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa, National President, has berated some of his members engaging in commercial transportation activities across the country, and especially in States that has declared lockdown, describing them as “unscrupulous elements”.
Baruwa said it is obvious that these people are not members of the union who have been adequately briefed and directed to abstain from any form of commercial transport activities till the lockdown period is over.
In a statement issued yesterday at Abuja, the union chief said the NURTW is solidly behind efforts by the federal and state governments to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Baruwa gave details of the various steps taken by the union leadership to enforce members to comply with regulations guiding the lockdown exercise.
He said, “Prior to the lockdown, we gave directives to our members to obey the reduction in commuter loading capacity instituted to enforce social distancing.
“The state branches and units had in collaboration with government agencies carried out sensitisation exercises at our parks, garages and bus stops, to encourage members to adhere strictly with the rules put in place by the government to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We gave out sanitisers, nose masks, and flyers to members during those campaigns.
“We also set up task forces, to enforce member’s compliance, but the taskforce officials found out they have less work to do, because members of the union are in full understanding of what is required of them, so have no difficulty in complying.
“It is disheartening however, to now find elements masquerading themselves as commercial drivers engaging in passenger loading in this period. I have directed state chairmen, including the FCT, to carry out investigations into areas notorious for these illegal transport activities, to find and fish out those engaged in it. Anyone caught or discovered to be involved so far, will be handed over to the police.”
Baruwa also used the opportunity to advice the motoring public to observe social distancing by staying at home and staying safe.