Why Akeredolu banned NURTW ‘thugs’ in Ondo
It is no longer news that Ondo governor Rotimi Akeredolu has banned the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) from all motor parks in the state.
The ban also applies to the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).
As it stands, both unions are barred from collection levies from commercial vehicle operators in the state.
Reports say Akeredolu made the move following several security reports detailing the allegations of thuggery against both unions.
The security reports indicated possible clashes between both unions during activities to mark the second term inauguration of Governor Akeredolu, The Nation reported.
Besides the possible bloody clash, sources named the astronomical increase in transport fare within Akure metropolis owing to hike in ticket fees paid by commercial drivers as another reason.
Last month, commercial taxi drivers were made to pay N750 daily as against N250 which made them to increase drop from N50 to N100.
The N750 was broken down to N300 to the coffers of the state government, N100 for the national leadership of NURTW or RTEAN while the N300 for the state leadership of the unions.
What however peeved the State Government, according to sources, was the N300 meant to State Government was sold to the union for N200.
Also, the unions were found not to have been remitting any money to the State Government in its previous N250 daily collections.
Speaking to newsmen on Monday, Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Strategy to Akeredolu, Dr Doyin Odebowale, said the state government would not sit by and watch the unions turned the state to theatre of war.
His words: “Their leadership is not recognised by us. They should go to their offices. They should leave our parks immediately.
“They go about brandishing guns, cutlasses. They want to be killing themselves over money.
“Anybody who wants to die is welcome if he wants to commit suicide but we will not allow them turn Ondo to a place of war. The Governor has directed that we look into it. If it is a thing we can resolve we will resolve it.”
He warned both unions to stop collecting dues and levies from commercial drivers in the state.
Odebowale said new tickets would be sold directly by government officials and urged commercial drivers to revert to the old price of N50 per drop.
