Mayhem in Abuja Nurtw HQ

 MAYHEM AND CONFUSION IN NURTW HQ ABUJA 

News of mayhem surfaced on social media X formerly twitter by an online news media the Editorial on 12th September,2023 which reported chaos at the headquarters of National Union of transport worked union ( NURTW) .

According to the news source , dangerous weapon are used by the union members to out with one another in a supremacy battle to control and stamp authority of the union .

The news source explained this was aftermath of the leadership tusle between Baruwa faction which claimed to be duely elected and Agbede faction supported by members of defunct Perk and garden mainly from Lagos and some states in western part of Nigeria who felt aggrevied by the outcome of the election .

As at the time of the report number of death and extend of casualties from both sides can't be ascertained . 

Our appeal goes to the relevant authorities , the presidency, Minister Abuja, Inspector general of police to restore peace to the federal capital Abuja 

Below is the report of The Editorial pasted online 

Guns were said to have been freely used, but the number of casualties could not be confirmed.

This conflict is an aftermath of the escalating tension within the NURTW.

Sources said the clash broke out when supporters of NURTW President, Prof. Tajudeen Baruwa, marched towards the union’s national headquarters, which is currently occupied by the a Committee led by Tajudeen Badru Agbede.

One of the sources said, “As you may be aware, members of the Committee, led by Agbede, forcefully occupied the Secretariat a few weeks ago, displacing the president and other executives.

“Therefore, supporters of the current president mobilized themselves in an effort to remove Agbede and his group.

“However, they were met by a police blockade which resulted in a violent confrontation. Shots were fired, intensifying the gravity of the crisis.”

Baruwa had been seeking intervention of the police and the Nigeria Labour Congress to resolve the situation, without success.

He subsequently threatened to defend “our mandate with the last drop of our blood.”

He accused the former president of the union, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, and Agbede, the former National Vice President, of holding illegal meetings with selected past leaders of the union.

Baruwa also alleged that the police seem to favour the Committee.

He called on the Inspector General of Police and Director General of the Department of State Services, to intervene in the matter.

News credit : The Editorial

The hide and seek game of Lagos state government with the state transport sector

 LASG HIDE AND SEEK GAME WITH TRANSPORT SECTOR IN LAGOS STATE 

James Anthony Okechuckwu perception 

Lagosians on Thursday 6th September woke up to wonders of individual superiority to constituent authority in Lagos state  with Musiliu Akinsanya the Ernest chairman of Lagos state park and garrage announced that the committee has been dissolved and he now led members of the dissolved committee back to NURTW to take charge of Lagos parks with instructiin that green and white uniform should be back on Lagos roads , only to be followed on Friday 7th September with similar announcement from the LASG agency which gives credence to Musiliu Akinsanya pronouncement. Why wasn't the LASG  that make such pronouncement  as it did before NURTW was suspended but left her responsibility to an individual?Does such prouncement means continuation of parks and garrage members and automatic switch over by same people but with new name? 

With the latest development reasonable Lagos residents are confused on who's order MC Oluomo derived his authority to sidelined the appropriate authority elected to informed the public of government decision .

In the last one and half years that the services of NURTW was suspended and replaced with parks and garrage committee. what has changed or improved to warrant the state government returning the control of Lagos transport sector to same set of people ?

Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration should remember that same man whom the state has given the control of a branch of the state transport sector still carries a lot of negative baggages that preceded the last election in Lagos state which almost marred the election that shake the peaceful co-existence of the people in the state . Would the state be safe and peaceful under such an individual? Would some commuters at a time not be threaten knowing fully well the characters of the former park and garrage committee chairman ?

The Hide and seek game of the administration in leaving the responsibilities of this government to a set of people with questionable characters are signs of leadership weakness and vision to right the wrongs of the transport sector whom many had complained.

Many had expected the state ministry of transport to highlight areas of mode of operations of the NURTW with an educated and experience individual to work in tandem with the government policy on transport not a compensation to political hawkers who live in delusion of bigger than constituent authority 

Would the Agberos still operates in their usual manner of constituting neusance on our roads and collection of illegal fees , disrespect of traffic laws , arrogance and treaten to other users in Lagos, used all available spaces for their garages ? Lagos residents needs a breath new of life on their roads and community .

If the Lagos state Assembly can scrutinized commissioner designate , it shouldn't be a big deal for the assembly to cautioned the state government and NURTW with clear instructions of how the state hope to have it's transport system function with consequences and review .

Which of the NURTW did the Lagos state government had discussion with that led to the lifting of the suspension of the union ? Is it Agbede and Musiliu Akinsanya faction that are serving members of park and garden committee or the National body of the union ? Is the dissolution of park and garrage means automatic take over of Musiliu Akinsanya Mc as state chairman ? This are cogent questions the state government must immediately put to rest to avoid chaos which is synonymous with the operations of NURTW

The more the Lagos state government folds it's hand and allowed some group or individual dictates to her , the government is just postponing the evil day where they would proof there is government in government in Lagos state and cause chaos in the state. A stitch in time saves nine .

Election is over, governance in Lagos state should be taken with all seriousness to ameliorate the pains of Lagos residents especially at this time of hardship. Lagos state government needs to stand up and announced with clear informations on transport governance in Lagos state.

Opinion 

September 2023