Lagos bans NURTW from motor parks as MC Oluomo pulls out

The Lagos State Government has outlawed the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW) from parks and garages across the state.

In a state by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, the government explained that the action was to ‘douse the unnecessary tension generated by the leadership tussle in the NURTW and protect the citizenry from the likely fallout of the situation’.

According to the state government, the activities of the NURTW were immediately suspended, while it would set up a committee ‘to immediately take control of the parks and garages’, Omotoso said.

He then announced the withdrawal of his lieutenants and himself from NURTW as a union.

The national headquarters of the union had queried MC Oluomo for refusing to carry out instructions given to him in recent times.

Among other allegations in the query dated 14th February 2022, he was also accused of resorting to intimidation, harassment, and assault on the newly-appointed Chairman, Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, Azeez Abiola (also known as Istijabah).

In his response, MC Oluomo, who said he had successfully complied with his oath of office, refuted the claim that he instigated members of the union to assault Istijabah.

He, however, noted that the legality of the association’s operations in the state is a subject of a suit pending before the National Industrial Court.

MC Oluomo also refuted claims of engaging in acts of insubordination and anti-union activities in the state.

Subsequently, the national body of the union suspended MC Oluomo indefinitely in a letter dated 9th March 2022 and signed by its General Secretary, Kabiru Yau. He was said to have been found guilty of gross misconduct, among other offences. MC Oluomo was therefore directed to hand over to his deputy.

In announcing the withdrawal from the national association, MC Oluomo said he acted on behalf of ‘the State Administrative Council, State Executive Council members and the entire union rank and file members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State Council with over 200 branches and zones’.

The immediately withdraw of his chapter’s membership and operation from the national body of NURTW, MC Oluomo explained, was ‘for peace to reign in Lagos State’. He said he had informed the Lagos State Governor, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and other relevant agencies about the decision’.

‘In view of this and the crisis at hand, Lagos State Government is hereby invited to consider its White Paper on Transport Union activities, 2004 Section 5C, which states that the government should take over the management of any garage or motor park where there is a crisis until such is resolved by the consultative committee’.