Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan
Following months of suspension by the state government, factional heads of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Oyo State chapter have agreed to conduct election for the emergence of a Chairman and members of his executive council by October 23, 2019.
The decision was the outcome of a reconciliation meeting brokered by the State government and stakeholders in the state transport sector in conjunction with the national leadership of the union on Friday at the House of Chiefs, State Secretariat, Agodi Ibadan.
The meeting which was presided over by the Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Professor Raphael Afonja, addressed the rancor between the warring factions of the leadership of the transport workers in the state in order to ensure harmony among members
Professor Afonja at the meeting reiterated the need for the union to represent the state well by not giving in to personal interest that may negatively affect the peace and tranquility been enjoyed in the state.
He also assured the union members of the readiness of the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration to foist peaceful coexistence among the union members.
He however charged them be law abiding and follow the dictates of their constitution, stressing that they should warn their members issuing out tickets to motorists at various motor parks on behalf of the government to stop doing so until directives were given by the State government to the effect, adding that investigations are ongoing to ascertain the actual revenue that should be generated from the union to the coffers of government.
He said, “Governor Seyi Makinde wants peace to reign among you so that the State can move forward and I’m also using this medium to tell the union leaders to warn their officials issuing out tickets to motorists at motor parks on behalf of the Government to desist from this.
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“This is because the money being generated is not getting to the government and the government is still trying to verify where the money is channeled to and also finalize how the matter will be handled.
“We can only relate with the union when they maintain peace and harmony which the state needs to drive a good economy. Anyone caught fomenting trouble among your members or extorting motorists will face the wrath of the law.”
In his words, Comrade Kayode Ogunyanbi, the Deputy General Secretary, NURTW Abuja who doubled as the current Acting Chairman, NURTW Oyo Chapter, appreciated the efforts of the Oyo State Government and the National President of the Union, Professor Tajudeen Baruwa, for their magnanimity in facilitating the meeting to put an end to the rancor between the six leaders struggling for the position of NURTW Chairman State Council.
He added that the different factions have agreed and pledged to the state and the people that they have all come together as one and that there would be no more fracas among them.
The acting Chairman said it has been established among the factions that the NURTW members have seen reasons to work together, which led to the signing of agreement of harmonization putting the union under one umbrella.
After convincing the stakeholders at the meeting that only one person could occupy the chairmanship seat at a time, all the factions leaders present at the meeting later agreed that an election be conducted on the 23rd of October, 2019 to elect the new leaders.
The meeting had in attendance the six leaders jostling for the Chairmanship position in the Union which comprised of Mr Abass Adigun Omonesin, Mr Mukaila Lamidi (Auxiliary), Mr Raufu Oloruntobi, Mr Waheed Adeoyo, Mr Olajide Abideen Ejiogbe and Mr Lateef Opeyemi.
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