The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NURTW boss

  • Assembly crisis: Ondo NURTW boss arrested

    The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transports Workers (NURTW) in Ondo State, Jacob Adebo (aka Idajo), has been arrested by security operatives.

    It was learnt that Adebo was yesterday whisked away to the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) at Alagbon, in Lagos State.

    A source, who confirmed his arrest in Akure, said the NURTW chief was arrested over a petition written against him.

    Sixteen aggrieved lawmakers of the Ondo State House of Assembly had recently petitioned the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, over the attack allegedly led by Idajo on the assembly where many of them including journalists and assembly workers were assaulted.

    In the petition, the lawmakers explained how Adebo and his members beat up members of the assembly and also destroyed properties worth millions of naira.

    The source explained that Adebo was taken to Lagos State by security agents dressed in plain clothes. Police spokesman, Femi Joseph, confirmed the arrest of Adebo but did not give any reason his arrest. Many political observers and groups had criticised Adebo over attacks on innocent people at gatherings in the state.

    They expressed delight on the directive by the IGP to pick him for interrogation, stressing that the action would check his excesses.

    In a press statement signed by the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt  Olamide George, and the majority leader of the assembly, Hon. Olamide Araoyinbo, the lawmakers commended the IGP over the arrest of the NURTW chairman, saying the violent attack and wanton destruction of properties at the assembly complex on Friday November 9th, 2018, should not be swept under the carpet.

    “It has become a misery why somebody, just one person who holds an entire state into ransom over his nefarious activities such that he decides who to live or not live in Akure, his dimension of thuggery in the last two years, is a huge concern to citizens and residents of Akure, but we are happy as peace has been restored eventually.

    Our hope is that the police research and investigation will be thorough, such that Idajo and his gang will be prosecuted and punished according to the law of the land.”

  • NURTW boss absolves aides of murder

    NURTW boss absolves aides of murder

    Lagos State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede has exonerated his aides from the killing of a guest at a wedding in Agege last Sunday.
    Agbede said he was at the party and there was no problem before he left. He said he was shocked when he received a call the following day from a reporter, seeking his reaction on the dead guest.
    “I am a man of peace; l don’t allow people around me to misbehave. I was at the party to honour a family friend who had a wedding ceremony for his child. I was there together with some traditional rulers and we left together, but l was surprised when a reporter called to make enquiries about the murder of a guest at the wedding.
    “I am for peace; I don’t carry weapons around and l don’t allow people around me to carry weapons. It is very unfortunate that some disgruntled elements are desperate to tarnish other people’s image,” he said.
    Agbede implored the police to fish out the perpetrator, adding; “l have already informed my lawyers to take legal action against any newspaper linking me or my union to the alleged murder.”

  • Mind your legacy, NURTW boss tells leaders

    Mind your legacy, NURTW boss tells leaders

    President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, has advised people who find themselves in position of leadership to think about the legacy they will leave behind in office

    Yasin spoke during his visit to the Lagos State Council to sympathise with the members over the partial demolition of the council secretariat in Abule Egba. He commended the on-going construction of a new secretariat.

    Part of the state secretariat was demolished to give way to the ongoing construction of a fly over by the Lagos State Government.

    Yasin said: “Only a good job and projects left behind will speak about the type of leader you are, l always appeal to people to always make sure they leave a good legacy behind. This building is not for Agbede or any member of his executives; It is for the union. Generations unborn will be part of it, so always think of what you can do for your organisation”

    The NURTW boss described the partial demolition of the secretariat as a blessing in disguise for the union and appealed to members to cooperate with their leader to ensure the project is completed in record time.

    The Lagos State chairman Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede described the visit as a tonic for him to remain focused on the project

  • Why ‘conductors’ shouldn’t be recognised by NURTW boss

    Why ‘conductors’ shouldn’t be recognised by NURTW boss

    The planned recognition for conductors by the Commissioner for Transportation will lead to confusion,  Lagos State chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede has said.

     The NURTW boss was reacting to a series of media campaign to draw membership for the Conductors’ association and the alleged support being given to them by the state government. He said if the development is not checked, it might lead to a breach of industrial peace and cordial relationship that existed among vehicle owners, drivers and conductors.

     He said: “The people behind the mushroom association tried to register it during the administration of Babatunde Fashola but then Commissioner, Kayode Opeifa, invited us for a meeting and we told him the dangers in the development and the matter died down. But l think these people later went to the Ministry of Commerce to try their luck and

    got registered. Since then, they have been creating confusion in the industry.”

     Agbede explained that by their duties, conductors are part and parcel of NURTW, adding that forming a parallel association might create problems in the industry

     “Conductors are apprentices under training by professional drivers. As a commercial driver, one must have operated as a conductor and in the process, learn how to drive before graduating to become a licensed driver. So, conductors are drivers in waiting.”

  • NURTW boss to members: shun politics

    The President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Nojeem Usman Yasin has warned his Members nationwide to shun partisan politics.

    Yasin was reacting to media report to the effect that a party was planning to use members for campaign in the forthcoming election in Ondo State.

    He denied insinuations that members of the union in Lagos were planing to invade Ondo State to cause trouble.

    Yasin said men of the NURTW could no longer be used as political thugs. He said those thinking that his members could be used to cause trouble were living in the past.

    He said the NURTW as a trade union organisation is not affiliated to any political party, but that members were at liberty to vote for political party of their choice.

    “I have said times without number that members of NURTW are not affiliated to any party.