The leadership of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) yesterday insisted that it would not agree with the alleged extortion of its members by the Lagos State Government, through its constituted caretaker committee for the association.

Executive National President Alhaji Musa Mohammed, who spoke in Lagos, said its members would not pay any levy to the caretaker committee, describing the committee’s activities as “illegal”.

Lagos State Government on September 29 suspended RTEAN activities and dissolved the union’s elected executive members, following some pockets of violence recorded in Ojo and Lagos Island the same day.

The leadership of RTEAN had before the ban announced the suspension of one of its Lagos State vice chairmen, Mr. Oluwaseyi Bamgbose, popularly called ‘Student,’ for allegedly instigating unrest in the association.

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Bamgbose was organising protests, demanding the removal of RTEAN’s state Chairman, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, who is also the association’s National President.

Consequently, Mr. Sola Giwa, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, announced the constitution of a 35- Man Caretaker Committee to take over activities of the union.

Heading the committee is Alhaji Sulaiman Raji, the Oniba of Iba Kingdom, while Bamgbose was chosen as deputy chairman.

The union has instituted a case at the National Industrial Court, Lagos, challenging what it described as “illegal or unlawful action of the Lagos State Government”.

Contacted, Giwa said the government was already addressing the situation.