Leaders and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Lagos State Council have called on the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to do everything within his power to forestall a repeat of the bloody crisis in Lagos.
They alleged that the ongoing interference of the union’s National body in the Lagos NURTW’s affairs could trigger bloody violence as witnessed recently in the state, saying the leadership of Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya also known as MC Oluomo doesn’t need external factors to avert mayhem.
The concerned drivers union, who stormed Marina, Lagos House to protest the alleged interference by external forces, said that Lagos NURTW doesn’t want what they described as “meddlesomeness”.
The union members, who were received by the Governor, also called on the governor to discourage interference in the union’s matter, saying the management of the state tricycle operations is not within the powers of the national body of the union.
They insisted that the power to control the operation of the tricycle is strictly within the internal competence of the State Executive Council.
In a letter submitted to the Governor by a team led by the Union’s State Treasurer, Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle also known as Sego, the union argued that the power to manage, create and recreate branches rest within the power of the state council of the union and not the national body.
“The power to create, recreate, cancel, merge branches, units, zones are exclusively granted under Article 17[2] iv to the State Executive Council of each state and Lagos State is not an exception. The current zonal arrangement of the tricycle and motorcycle operations of the union which has assured peace is indeed commendable and should not be jettisoned.”
“We hereby pass a vote of confidence in Alhaji Akinsanya and seriously warn that this state shall not allow anyone for political considerations to tamper with her peace as is presently the situation in midst of the NURTW State Councils in Southwest,” they said.
Meanwhile, responding Sanwo-Olu, Sanwo-Olu hailed the union members for not taking laws into their hands, assuring that the state would continue to do everything to ensure peaceful coexistence of residents and ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.
He said: “I have received all your messages and it will be given due consideration. As you come here peaceful, I urged you to go back to your various destinations peacefully. It is paramount as government to address the issues with the urgency they deserve.”
