The national leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has rejected the Osun State Government’s suspension of the union’s activities, insisting that Governor Ademola Adeleke has no constitutional authority to halt its operations.
The union on Friday also inaugurated a seven-member caretaker committee to oversee its affairs in Osun State pending the resolution of the leadership crisis within the state chapter.
However, the Osun State Government maintained that the suspension of the union’s activities remains in force and said it would not recognise the newly constituted caretaker committee.
The committee, chaired by Kazeem Oyewale, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who is facing murder charges filed by the state government, was inaugurated at the union’s national headquarters in Garki, Abuja.
The development follows the state’s decision to suspend NURTW activities in motor parks after violence broke out in Osogbo. The unrest reportedly began after supporters of Oyewale staged a protest against the leadership of the state’s NURTW Chairman, Nurudeen Alowonle, an ally of Governor Adeleke.
The protest later descended into clashes, with gunfire causing panic among residents.
Responding to the suspension, NURTW National President Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, said no state government has the authority to suspend the activities of the union.
Represented by the union’s Deputy National President, Aliyu Ore, Akinsanya said the NURTW was established by law and had previously secured court victories against similar actions by state governments.
He said the union had been without effective not leave the activities of the union without leadership on the ground. Today, we heard that the governor suspended the activities of our union, which they do not have the power to do. No state governor leadership in Osun for several months despite repeated invitations to the state leadership to engage with the national body.
“We could not leave the activities of the union without leadership on the ground. Today, we heard that the governor suspended the activities of our union, which they do not have the power to do. No state governor has the power to suspend the activities of the union because we are not under any state. There is an Act that established the NURTW,” Ore said.
He added that the caretaker committee was necessary to ensure the union had functional leadership in the state, particularly ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
According to Ore, the NURTW has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide transportation for election materials.
In his acceptance speech, Oyewale pledged to reposition the union, promising improved administration and adherence to both the Nigerian Constitution and the union’s constitution.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Government reaffirmed that Alowonle and his executives across the state’s local government areas remain the recognised leadership of the union.
The government also stressed that Governor Adeleke had neither dissolved the NURTW leadership nor removed any duly appointed officials.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Engagement, Kolapo Alimi, the government said Alowonle and his executive were appointed by the union’s national leadership under Akinsanya in accordance with the NURTW’s regulations and guidelines.
The statement said there was “no vacuum” in the leadership of the union and accused some individuals of misrepresenting the outcome of the State Security Council meeting that ordered the suspension of NURTW activities in motor parks.
According to the government, the suspension was introduced solely to restore peace following the violence and did not amount to the dissolution of the union’s leadership.
“The security council’s directive is to suspend all activities of the union in motor parks across the state pending the restoration of peace,” the statement said.
It added that the Alowonle-led executive remains the only recognised leadership of the Osun State chapter of the NURTW.
