Tag: NURTW

The Osun state government has stated that the suspension of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state is in the interest of the people and the overall welfare of the state to ensure they receive the benefits of democracy.

Governor Ademola Adeleke suspended the operation of NURTW in January 2023 and initiated the Osun State Transport Management System (OSTMS) headed by Wakeel Nurudeen, also known as Alowonle.

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Despite calls for reinstatement by national members of the suspended NURTW and its former Osun State chairman, Kazeem Oyewale (also known as Asiri), the government, through its Senior Special Assistant on Road Monitoring of Okada, Korope, and others, Adedayo Adewale, announced that there are no plans to lift the suspension.

He explained: “For now, Osun State is operating OSTMS because NURTW are not giving any return or dues to the state government, they are only taking them to the federal government.

“But OSTMS gives returns to the state government which go a long way in increasing the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the state. The money is used for the benefit of the residents of the state.”

He noted that suspending NURTW has made the IGR of the state increase which is part of the vision of Adeleke.

Adewale added stressed that the transport ministry is very important to the state adding that the state does not want to use NURTW to do anything in the state.

…fare takes effect from October end

The federal government on Friday, September 27, signed pacts with members of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) of Adavi, Ajaokuta, and Itakpe stations in Kogi State for the conversion of the vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered for reduction of fare by over 40% as from the end of October 2024.

The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGI), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi made this known at the agreement signing ceremony in Abuja.

He said following the agreements, the vehicles are expected to reduce their fare from N12,000 and N13,000 to N7,000 and N8,000 between Ajaokuta to Abuja.

He said from Itakpe train station to Abuja will be N7,000 and 8,000 for four and six -and six-passenger vehicles respectively.

According to him, the Itakpe train station to Warri will be reduced to N5,000.

He added that “from Adavi to Abuja, very similar commitment, there is a provision for the reduction of fares currently as high as N12,000 and N13,000 from Abuja. We are bringing it down to N7,000 for six to eight-passenger vehicles and N8,000 for four-passenger vehicles.”

Oluwagbemi said the agreement stipulates that upon the conversion of 100 NURTW vehicles on the Kogi route by the end of October the agreements become effective.

He insisted that any of the converted vehicles found charging the old fare shall be liable to a refund of the full cost of conversion which is about N1.2 million.

The Federal Government presently converts the vehicles free of charge in its bid to crash transport fares.

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The P-CNGI boss said, “Upon conversion of each respective operator after we approach the 100. We also have enforcement here.

“NURTW is committing to enforcing on our behalf, making sure these rates are respected.

That if any operator violates these fare price, they will be responsible for reimbursing us for the full installation cost.”

Earlier he said, the fare reduction agreements were also part of the activities marking the 64th independence anniversary.

“The first one we are doing here today is to enable reduction of fare from Abuja to Kogi State, especially the Itakpe, Adavi, and Ajaokuta stations.

“These stations are important stations to convey people from Kogi to Delta state through Edo State.

“That means by the work we are doing here today we are just reducing the fare from N12,000 or N13,000 to N7,000 and N8,000. You can now get to Delta State and Edo State for less than N10,000 or sometimes even N12,000 or N13,000 as far as transportation is concerned.”

According to him, the Initiative is leveraging on CNG and train revolution infrastructure of the present administration.

Noting that several companies have been taking advantage of the P-CNGI for gas development, he stressed, that Greenville is commissioning 17 additional refuelling stations across Nigeria before the end of the year.

 Bovas, according to him, is commissioning an additional eight between Ibadan, Kwara, Osun, Ekiti, Nassarawa and FCT.

He said in the case of Greenville, they are commissioning most of them in the northern part of Nigeria like Katsina, Kaduna, and Jigawa States.

He said they are also opening up in Lafia, where they developed one about three weeks ago.

Continuing, he said “So 17 in total and equipment is already on ground. In the case of Bovas equipment is already on the ground. They are installed as we speak across Nigeria.

“This week we signed up with Matrix Energy. They are doing five immediately. They are doing it in Oyo, they are doing it in Delta. They will do in Abuja and they will do in Niger State. So as you can see additional investment is going into making sure that this infrastructure is available.

“NNPCL on its part has already done six in Abuja and of course, we visited one of those sites yesterday the one in Gaduwa and we expect that the additional six they are expecting to commission before the end of October in Lagos is also done.”

Responding, NURTW Ajaokuta secretary, Mr. Adeyemi Teslim promised his the union would abide by the agreements once the government keeps its part of the pacts.

He was hopeful the agreements would culminate in fare reduction on the routes.

Hails Tinubu’s initiatives

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najeem Yasin, has embarked on inspection tour of the six Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres in Abuja.

The initiative code-named: “PCNG I”, aims to reduce transportation costs by promoting the use of CNG among members of the union across the country.

During his visit, Yasin interacted with technicians and beneficiaries, hailing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts at implementing policies and programmes  that would not only reduce the cost of transportation, but also promote cleaner environment and affordable energy.

He said the essence of his impromptu inspection was to ensure the need for compliance with guidelines and successful implementation of the programme.

 “The purpose of my inspection is to measure the level of compliance with the guidelines we gave the centres,” Yasin said.

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“We need to monitor how our people are carrying out the directives. NURTW is involved in this initiative, and we want to ensure its success. I am using this opportunity to call on Nigerians, especially members of the NURTW, to key into this programme by presenting their vehicles for conversion from fuel to CNG, to reduce the cost of transportation. If the cost of transportation is reduced, prices of goods and services will also go down and this is what President Tinubu is clamouring for.”

The inspection tour is part of  Federal Government’s efforts to promote CNG adoption and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Yasin’s involvement underscores the commitment of stakeholders to ensuring a seamless transition to cleaner energy.

• Seeks return to parks in Oyo, Osun

The Southwest Zone of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has urged Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke and Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde to reinstate the operation of its members in the two states.

The NURTW during the zonal stakeholders meeting in Osogbo, Osun State over the weekend made the appeal noting that banning of operations of its members is denying the zone to take leadership positions at the national level.

During the meeting, the Ex-National Treasurer of the Union, Nasiru Komolafe appealed to Adeleke and Makinde to return motor parks in their states to the union, noting that Osun and Oyo State remain the only states in the South West that NURTW is not operating.

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Komolafe stressed that “Banning our operations will hinder us from occupying the allocated seats for the zone at the national level. Our operations are limited to Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, and Ekiti states in the South West, leaving Osun and Oyo State. 

“I’m pleading to the governors to grant us permission to operate in Osun and Oyo States. We cannot produce the necessary officers to represent us at the federal level if the state forbids us from operating. It is now our turn; if we do not choose our delegates in the next three years, another zone will get the chance.

Also, the Chairman of the Ogun State Chapter, Mustapha Ismael, revealed that an appeal has been filed against the election of Tajudeen Baruwa as the union’s national president which was affirmed by the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja

Meanwhile, the State Chairman of Lagos State NURTW, Musiliu Akinsanya, urged members of the union to abstain from wrangling that can endanger unity.