The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) have agreed to amicable settlement of all grievances over park operations in Lagos State.
Both unions reached the terms on Monday at a meeting which lasted for over four hours at Radisson Blue Hotel, Ikeja.
The meeting which was presided over by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Oluwatoyin Fayinka had in attendance leadership of the two unions, led by their Chairmen, NURTW, Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, (MC Oluomo) and the Vice Chairman RTEAN, Chief Gbenga Elesho.
Fayinka said the meeting was called at the instance of the government to resolve all issues causing rancor among the two unions.
He said the clash between both parties at Obalende Lagos, on Thursday, 11th February, 2021, was a development which has not happened for a long time as both parties had cohabited peacefully, hence the need for the immediate resolution to forestall a reoccurrence.
Responding to the issue that degenerated into the clash, NURTW State Treasurer, Mr. Mustapha Adekunle, (Sego) stated that the disagreement was on the control of park unit of which both parties had agreed on its operation. He further explained that the agreement which has to do with operation of tricycles in one of the units under the control of RTEAN was denied access by NURTW for their minibuses operation.
Confirming the Treasurer’s position on the issue, the NURTW State Chairman, Akinsanya, added that the boundary operations crisis that ensued between the Unions could have been averted just as so many others that could have degenerated into crisis have been amicably settled in the past for peace to reign supreme, through Stakeholders’ meeting involving his members and RTEAN. He reiterated the peaceful coexistence between both parties, calling for peaceful resolution.
On the part of RTEAN, the State Secretary, Mr. Amusan Olalekan, mentioned that the clash was avoidable going by the agreement of both parties to maintain the peace which has existed for long, adding that the crisis could have been avoided if Union Leaders of both parties had taken proactive measures at resolving issues immediately they ensued. He wondered the reason for the crisis having operated together at Obalende for so long without rancor and fights.
Still on RTEAN’s point of view, the Vice Chairman, Chief Gbenga Elesho mentioned that some other parks which were initially under the control of his union had been taken over by NURTW part of which accumulated into the clash.
Addressing the two parties on the need for amicable settlement, the Special Adviser urged both parties to resolve all differences and allow peace to reign.
At the end of the lengthened deliberation, both parties agreed that pending the return of Tricycle operation by NURTW at Obalende, RTEAN will continue with the operation of their Minibuses, with welfare fees paid to NURTW. This peaceful agreement will be signed by both parties at the Ministry of Transportation on Tuesday, 16th February, 2021.
Present at the meeting are; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Kamar Olowoshago, Director, Transport Operations, Engr. Abdulafiz Toriola, other management staff of the ministry and members of the two unions.