- signs MOU
In response to the violence that marred Mile 2 and Amuwo-Odofin axis between the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Amuwo division, the Lagos State Government has declared that any more clashes will attract a suspension of their operations.
Speaking at a meeting with both parties, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Oluwatoyin Fayinka, averred that the State Government will proceed with dealing with the case as soon as the Nigerian Police present the report of the crisis, stressing that looming problem of multiple levies on truckers by the Unions around the axis had been the trigger for the dispute.
Expressing his disappointment at the unfortunate incident that left three people dead, the Special Adviser warned the Unions to beware of infiltrators as this will sully their reputation and lead to an abrupt end of the activities by the State Government as the safety of lives and properties is first and sacrosanct.
In affirmation to the claims made by the Special Adviser, The Vice Chairman, RTEAN and Head of Haulage, Comrade Adeola Adeyemi explained that the NURTW had breached the agreement earlier signed by both parties, stating that their violent insistence on selling ticket suspended by the Lagos State Government to truckers registered under RTEAN had resulted to the death of three members last week.
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In defense to the accusation levied on NURTW by RTEAN, the Branch Secretary NURTW, Amuwo, Comrade Adewale Adeyemi stated that the Council of Maritime Transport Union and Associations (COMTUA) was responsible for the evacuation at Fatgbem which ignited the crisis, adding that they were the ones that went to dislodge the violators of the aforementioned agreement and the violators were handed over to the police. He further revealed that the reprisal attack by RTEAN with the intervention of OPMESA equally led to casualties that occurred.
Responding to all explanations, the Transport Special Adviser assured that necessary steps were being taken to nip the reprisals in the bud, warning strongly that the State Government will not hesitate to suspend union activities if they will impede the development and peace of the state.
‘There is room for improvement and we will improve. Because of the rivalry, we had mediated between both parties on many occasions,we are going to solve this at the root. We will do our job as the Government’ Fayinka stated.
Closing the meeting, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Kamar Olowoshago described the ugly incident that occurred at Mile 2 as avoidable, unnecessary and unfair. He warned that the communique signed by both Unions will be binding.
The meeting came to a close with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) duly signed by both NURTW and RTEAN. It was agreed that none of the Unions are to extort or collect tolls from trailers/trucks in any form of disguise. Also contained in the MOU is the constitution of a Seven-Man Committee consisting of 3members each from the unions and an official from the Ministry of Transportationto establish areas of conflict and recommendations within a month.
Present at the peace Meeting are;Alhaji AbdulRamanu Amusan, State Secretary RTEAN, Alhaji Olabode Ogungbade, Zonal Chairman RTEAN, Alhaji Waheed –Alamu, AlhajiRasaki Zulu, Comrade Salami Ismail, Comrade Ojora Sulaimon, Deputy State Chairman NURTW, Comrade Tunde Raji, Comrade Wasiu Bello, Comrade Abiodun Ibrahim.