The suspension of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) from parks and garages across Lagos state has sparked debate among residents of Amuwo Odofin.
The state government has announced the establishment of a committee to oversee the affairs of transport workers at parks and garages across the state, after suspending the chairman of the Lagos State National Union of Road Transport Workers, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, for acts of insubordination and gross misconduct.
According to eyewitnesses, Musiliu Akinsanya has not taken the suspension well after mobilizing NURTW members from the Lagos chapter to break into the Union’s office and steal millions of Naira in tickets in order to continue operation in Lagos.
Modupe, an insurance practitioner and community resident, remarked that the suspension will only benefit Lagosians because they will no longer have to contend with the NURTW’s nuisance in the local government.
She stated that anyone who has visited Mile 2 will understand what she is pointing to.
Kemi, an entrepreneur, also stated that it is high time for the government to evict them from the streets, despite the fact that this is not the first time they have threatened to do so.
“This time, I’m hoping they’ll take the decision seriously.” She explained.
According to Enitan, a local gym instructor, he said “Members of this union are not professionals and should not be on the streets of Lagos since all they do is harass commercial drivers and cause problems in Lagos, therefore I believe the suspension is a positive step forward, and if they want to reform, they need proper training and mental evaluation.” Giving thugs this much power in a state is not ethical.”
Engineer Joseph Alagba believes that the NURTW in Lagos will continue to operate, and that the Lagos state government has a role to play.
“No union should have sovereignty over the state,” he stated. “It will be shameful if the Union disobeys this order, but I believe the government will find it difficult to stop them.”
It’s excellent for everyone in the state if the government can put an end to this union.”
Commercial drivers in Mile 2 have also expressed their desire for the union to vacate Lagos’ streets.
“We pay a lot of money to the union just to be harassed by them and receive nothing in return,” said Ibrahim, a driver. “A lot of the money we give to the union is not written and signed for.”
The truth is that we work for the union because they take nearly everything that we have.
I hope the government takes action to address this issue.”
“Union members can afford to send their children to good schools, but drivers can’t; even a three-square lunch is a struggle for many of us, and if you speak up, you’ll be beaten.”
“We need federal assistance,” Johnson remarked.
