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Tag: NURTW

  • NURTW cuts transport fares by 50 per cent

    THE Lagos State Council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has announced that those travelling outside the state for the purpose of elections will enjoy 50 per cent reduction in transport fares.

    Its chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, gave the directive in his office.

    He directed that commercial drivers, especially those plying interstate routes, should give 50 per cent discount to those travelling out of Lagos to cast their votes

    The directive, he said, was to cushion the effect of last weekend postponement of elections dates and to encourage people to travel to their various destination to vote, where they are registered.

    To enjoy the discount, a prospective traveller is expected to show his/ her Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to the driver before he/ she is allowed to enjoy the discount

    “This is the directive from the national headquarters of our union. It is to be implemented in all inter state parks in the country. It is part of our union’s contribution to the electoral process.”

    Agbede also addressed the issue of violence during and after the election, adding that his leadership has sensitised all members of the union across all the zones and branches in the state to eschew violence.

    “We have also told all politicians in very clear terms that our men are not available for any assignment to foment trouble in the state.”

     

  • Lagos PDP to INEC: Don’t involve NURTW members in elections logistics

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State says INEC should not involve the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the movement of electoral materials during the February and March polls.

    The state Chairman of the party, Dr Adegbola Dominic, expressed the position on Thursday at the party’s General Assembly in Lagos.

    He said the NURTW had openly aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and that the union would surely protect the interests of the ruling party in the February and March elections.

    Dominic said a recently held rally of the APC clearly revealed members of the NURTW and its leadership pledging allegiance to the APC.

    He said the action of the transport union members clearly showed they were partisan and that they would work to ensure the victory of APC in the elections.

    “The Lagos State PDP condemn and reject in totality the announced agreement between the INEC and NURTW with respect to transportation and delivery of election materials before and during the polls.

    “We hinge our rejection on the admission and confession of the Lagos APC spokesman, Mr Joe Igbokwe, that officers and members of the NURTW are card-carrying members of the APC.

    Read also: INEC to recruit PLWDs as adhoc staff in Zamfara

    “The viral videos and pictures confirming notorious NURTW officers and members support for APC in Ekiti, Osun and Kwara states and the rally in Lagos shows the union is clearly partisan.

    “Consequently, we declare that the NURTW cannot be fair in the distribution and delivery of election materials to all voting centres especially where PDP voters dominate.

    ‘”We seek that INEC should terminate the agreement and seek collaboration elsewhere,” he said.

    Dominic condemned the violence in the recently held rally of the APC, saying the incident threatened democracy and safety of residents.

    He said the PDP was not disappointed at the mayhem, claiming violence had been the stock-in-trade of the APC.

    The party Chairman urged security agencies to provide security at campaign gatherings to avert what he called the loss of lives and valuables that characterised the APC rally.

    The party chairman said the APC had failed Lagos residents and that there was the need for electorates in the state to vote out the ruling party in the general elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prominent PDP members at the assembly included a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George as well as the Publicity Secretary, Mr Taofik Gani.

    NAN reports that party members freely interacted with the executive and elders of the parry, on how to ensure electoral victory for the party in the state at the assembly. (NAN)

  • MC Oluomo discharged from hospital, travels abroad

    A chieftain of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya a.k.a MC Oluomo, was on Tuesday night discharged from a Lagos hospital, where he was receiving treatment.

    MC Oluomo was attacked at an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Ikeja on Jan. 8, and was immediately taken to Eko Hospital, following injuries he sustained.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited the Eko Hospital in Ikeja on Wednesday, gathered that MC Oluomo left the hospital on Tuesday night after payment of over N2 million medical bill.

    A very reliable source, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that the NURTW leader may have left for the United States immediately he was discharged from hospital on Tuesday night.

    “He is very fine and has nothing to worry about his health after his treatment at the hospital. Before he finally left on Tuesday night, he was receiving a lot of well-wishers.

    “Sometimes, he moves around and sometimes walks his visitors to the corridor, so he was in a sound health before leaving the hospital.

    Read Also: How NURTW chief, MC Oluomo, was stabbed, by K1 Publicist

    “Few days before he left the hospital, his associates were making arrangements for his trip,’’ the source said.

    NAN also observed that there was no more police presence around the hospital, as the three police vehicles stationed there had been removed.

    The Lagos State Police Command had said it arrested some suspects and also declared wanted another NURTW chieftain over the disruption of the APC rally in Lagos.

    The Command’s spokesperson, CSP Chike Oti, had said that those arrested in connection with the incident were helping the police in their investigation.

  • MC Oluomo: Taskforce warns against spreading fake death news

    Lagosians have been warned to stop spreading fake death news of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos State Treasurer Musiliu Akinsanya (a.k.a MC Oluomo).

    Those caught, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) on Monday said, will be prosecuted.

    A statement by Taskforce spokesman Taofiq Adebayo reiterated that the latest rumour about Oluomo’s death circulating around the social media is not “TRUE.”

    According to him, the agency’s Chairman, Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), confirmed that Akinsanya is not dead as being circulated but recuperating at the hospital.

    He stated that the ‘dead’ of the NURTW leader was being rumoured by miscreants and hoodlums who want to foment trouble and cause panic around Oshodi and other major motor parks in Lagos.

    Egbeyemi called on NURTW leadership to immediately call their members across the state to order, noting that the Commissioner of Police CP Imohimi Edgal has directed that any miscreant or hoodlum caught causing or disturbing the peace of innocent members of the public would not be spared.

    Egbeyemi said: “Once again we are using this medium to seriously warn miscreants and hoodlums who might want to foment mayhem to desist or face the full wrath of the Law. We are also urging parents and guardians to closely monitor the activities of their wards.

    “The agency would continue the use of patrol vans and power-bikes to patrol around all nooks and cranny of the entire Oshodi area to forestall any possibility of brake-down of law and order.”

    He urged members of the public not to be panic and be going about their lawful businesses around Oshodi and other parts of the state.

    Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area Idris Muse-Ariyoh said Akinsanya will soon to return home.

    Ariyoh said: “There is no problem in Oshodi. Anyone trying to cause mayhem will be dealt with in accordance with the law. It is a rumour that there is a crisis in Oshodi. Oshodi is peaceful. People are going about their normal duties without panic.”

  • APC rally: NURTW accuses police of bias

    A new twist emerged yesterday in the violence that disrupted the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Lagos on Tuesday.

    Some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oshodi accused Lagos State Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal of being biased in handling the crisis.

    The Organising Secretary, Berger Unit, at Oshodi, Semiu Omosansan, who spoke on behalf of others, alleged that the police did not display enough professionalism.

    Lagos State Police Command declared Mustapha Adekunle aka Sego wanted on Tuesday for “attempting to disrupt the rally” held at the Skypower Grounds,  Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ikeja.

    But Adekunle described the police action as a “frame-up.”

    Omosansan said: “Adekunle Mustapha (Sego) was not at the place where union’s state Treasurer Musiliu Akinsanya (aka MC Oluomo) was stabbed.

    “The incident occurred on the stage where K1 (Wasiu Ayinde Anifowoshe) was performing and he is alive to bear witness that Sego was nowhere close to the stage. This is not the first time MC Oluomo and Sego will attend APC rally as party members and such unfortunate incident has never happened until the state Chairman (Tajudeen Agbede) and his boys decided to attend last Tuesday’s event.

    “One of Sego’s boys was killed during the violence. Why is Sego accused of being responsible for that? We are yet to understand the reason to declare him wanted.  MC Oluomo was stabbed in the presence of Agbede Tajudeen, NURTW chairman in Idumota Azeez Lawal (aka Kunle Poly) and others. The police should quiz the two (Agbede and Lawal). Agbede even lied that he took MC Oluomo to the hospital, which is not true.

    “In a situation like this, we expect that the Commissioner of Police will carry out thorough and unbiased investigations.

    “The police are the custodian of law. We still have huge faith and belief in the Force that it will always do the right thing. We implore the CP to get his facts right.”

    Police spokesman Chike Oti urged Adekunle to come out and clear himself.

    He said: “This matter is not debatable, it is on camera. Sego was caught on camera unleashing violence on people. That is the reason he was declared wanted. It is not a case of peddling falsehood or perception, it is about reality. Our declaration of Sego wanted still stands. Whatever anybody has to say on the matter, such a person should come to the police. You do not resort to violence to resolve issues.”

    Adekunle last night challenged the police to release the video evidence for the world to see.

    He said: “Whoever has any videotape of Sego unleashing mayhem on people should let the world see it. Whosoever has any evidence against Sego should come forward with it. That’s what I want. Anybody can fight for his right with his mouth by speaking against what he feels is not right. Besides, employing the use of a weapon is against the law and nobody on Tuesday can say he or she saw me with any weapon.

    “For emphasis, I did not hold any weapon on that day. I only spoke against what is not right. I went to the rally as a member of Team Lagos and not on behalf of the union. I have been a party member since 1999 and we have been in Team Lagos since then. Go and ask Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Oba Demola Elegushi, APC state Chairman Tunde Balogun and King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal what Team Lagos stands for. I was at the rally under the banner of Team Lagos. Agbede came under the banner of the union (NURTW).”

    The President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW, Alhaji Najeem Yasin, has summoned members of the State Administrative Council (SAC) to an emergency meeting in Abuja.

    “This is to get to the root of the violence in which some members of the union were mentioned as active participants,” he said.

    The union under his leadership, he said, would do everything possible to unravel the role played by all members of the union mentioned in connection with the violence “and whoever that is found wanting or involved directly or indirectly will be dealt with in accordance with the union’s constitution.”

    Yasin said members of the union as Nigerians are free to belong to any party, stressing, however, that they should be careful not to drag the name of the union into partisan politics.

    “Our union, NURTW, is not affiliated to any party. We are an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Our members are free to belong to any party of their choice. Members who attend political rallies do so on a personal note and not in the name of the union,” he added.

    NURTW assured citizens that its leadership will not allow anyone or group of persons to drag its name in the mud.

    It said the union is working hard to get rid of some bad elements using its name for their selfish interest.

     

     

  • NURTW chief, MC Oluomo, is alive, says aide

    The Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area Idris Muse-Ariyoh on Thursday debunked news on social media that there was crisis in Oshodi.

    Also, an aide of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leader in Oshodi and State Treasurer Musiliu Akinsanya (a.k.a MC Oluomo), Buhari Jimoh described as “fake news” the rumour that MC Oluomo is dead.

    Rising from a security meeting, Muse-Ariyoh called on people to remain calm and go about their normal business.

    Those at the meeting included the three Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), representatives of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the State Environment and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), the Elewu of Ewutuntun Oba Shakirudeen Adesina Kuti and Secretary to the Local Government.

    “We have the backing of the Commissioner of Police to make Oshodi secure,” Muse-Ariyoh told reporters, adding “There is no problem in Oshodi. Anyone trying to cause mayhem will be dealt with in accordance with the law. It is a rumour that there is a crisis in Oshodi. Oshodi is peaceful. People are going about their normal duties without panic.

    “What happened in Ikeja on Tuesday was purely NURTW affairs. Unfortunately, MC Oluomo, who was injured is responding well to treatment and he should return home in few days to come,” he said.

    He warned the youth to refrain from violence act and avoid being used as political thugs.

    Oba Kuti urged parents to warn their children against violence.

    “Your children must not be used to foment trouble. Whoever is caught will be prosecuted and we’ll not intervene,” the monarch said.

    Jimoh urged the people not to panic, saying MC Oluomo is alive.

    “We do not know what those peddling the rumour stand to benefit. It is wrong to create unnecessary fears in society. Oluomo is receiving treatment in the hospital,” he said.

  • INEC signs MOU with transport unions on improved logistics

    The Independent Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Niger state has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) for improved election logistics.

    The MoU states the unions are to serve as partners with INEC in delivering election personnel and materials promptly in Election Day and to undertake reverse logistics.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Samuel Egwu, said the MoU would change the narrative of the 2019 election in Niger state.

    Egwu said the MoU replicates the signing of similar MoU at the federal level in December 2018, adding the success of the 2015 elections made it necessary for the commission to engage the two unions.

    “INEC is particularly trilled by the contents of this MoU that specifies the roles of leadership of the unions in ensuring proper behaviour on the part of their drivers and functionaries.

    “We are hopeful that on February 16 and March 2, INEC in Niger state will be in the position to open polls latest at 8 am because that alone can contribute significantly to free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.”

    Read Also: Truck laden with INEC ballot papers arrested

    The Commissioner said they were yet to finalise discussions with the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) as the union is yet to sign the MoU at the national level.

    The Niger state NURTW Chairman, Comrade Musa Kontagora and his counterpart in NARTO, Alhaji adamu Mohammed Wushishi, promised to keep to the stipulations of the MoU promising the delivery of all election materials early and on time.

    The signing of the MoU was witnessed by Barrister Auta Nasara.

  • NURTW ‘for peaceful elections’

    Lagos State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede has advised members to shun thuggery and violence.

    He warned that those involved in crimes would be expelled.

    Agbede said the union had been operating peacefully in the last six years

    Read also: Police to NURTW chief: turn yourself in

    “We have been enjoying peace since l became the chairman. l enjoin members to continue to maintain peace. We will not tolerate any act that can tarnish our image and destroy the good work we have been doing,” he added.

    Agbede advised branch officers to liaise with police formations in their areas to maintain law and order

    “I implore our branch officers to get in touch with Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and men of the State Security Service (SSS) in their areas. You should report any case of violence or disturbance to them. We want to support the government to enjoy violence-free elections,” he said.

  • Police to NURTW chief: turn yourself in

    The Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday insisted Auditor of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Mustapha Adekunle (aka Seigo) is still a wanted man.

    Adekunle, the command said, should report to the command in his own interest.

    He was declared wanted by the police on Tuesday for attempting to disrupt a rally organised by the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) to kick-off the campaign of its governorship candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Skypower Grounds, Ikeja Government Reservation Area (GRA).

    But Adekunle described the police action as a “frame-up.”

    Police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), told The Nation 14 more people have been arrested in connection with the skirmishes

    “Adekunle is still wanted. Although, we have arrested 14 more people in connection with the crisis, making 16 suspects.

    “The command is not relenting in its quest to apprehend all the people that were involved in the skirmishes.

    “We are going after all of them. At the end of the investigations, all those involved would be charged to court.

    “In the best interest of Seigo, (Adekunle), he should report himself to the police,” Oti said.

    Meanwhile, scores of sympathisers on Wednesday besieged EKO Hospital, Ikeja where NURTW State Treasurer Musiliu Akinsanya (a.k.a MC Oluomo), who was stabbed in the head, stomach and hand at the rally, is recuperating.

    A police vehicle was parked in front of the hospital.

    Some policemen were seen interrogating those going into the hospital.

    Read Also: Police disperse crowd at PDP’s rally

    Those who do not have valid reason were turned back.

    Our correspondent was told that Oluomo cannot speak with anybody now.

    His aide Buhari Jimoh said doctors warned people should stay away from him to allow them to do their job.

    “He’s responding well to treatment. Though, the doctors called for restriction of people coming to see how he’s faring.

    “Such call is understandable – to allow the doctors to concentrate on their treatment and to ensure he (Oluomo) rest well,” he said.

  • 2019: Akeredolu should unite APC stakeholders for victory

    Ahead of 2019 election,a group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state has urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to summon a meeting with leaders of various factional groups within the ruling party to mend fences.

    The group consist of members of the 2016 Aketi gubernatorial campaign team chaired by the former Chairman, Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, (OSOPADEC) Chief Adewale Omojuwa.

    At a meeting held in Oba-ile, Akure North local government,the group also called on the governor to warn members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)in the state against attacking innocent people at any event.

    The politicians decried the alleged disruption of the proceedings at the State Assembly recently where many people including journalists were allegedly injured by NURTW members.

    It expressed displeasure over  the use of thugs and external militia to cause pandemonium during political party programmes such as congress and stakeholders meetings.

    In a communique jointly signed by Omojuwa and General Secretary, Teniola Oladele, the group expressed the need for Akeredolu to devise a means of bringing all aggrieved groups in the party together as one united and indivisible political family.

    Read Also: I’ll tackle Akure airport challenges –Akeredolu

    On the post-primary crisis in the state, it  advised the governor to direct APC State Working Committee(SWC) to refund money paid for nomination of forms by the councillor and chairmanship aspirants since the candidates had been picked.

    ” We implore the SWC to ensure refund of various sums of money to members who were deprived from participating in the party primaries,such as N 200,000 for House of Assembly aspirants and N 300,000 for Representatives.

    “We also plead with the governor to consider and approve a meeting of all state leaders and various interest groups with him to iron out all differences and contentious issues ahead of February 2019 election with a view to ensure remarkable success at the polls” the communique stressed.

    It expressed unflinching support for President Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s flag bearer,and the National Working Committee(NWC) led by Adams Oshiomhole.