Osun: Adeleke suspends transport union activities at motor parks, orders arrest of violators

By Sunday Oguntuyi, Osogbo

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered the immediate suspension of all activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at motor parks across the state following the leadership crisis rocking the union.

The governor also directed security agencies to arrest anyone who violates the directive by operating in the parks in the name of the union.

The decision was reached at the State Security Council meeting held on Thursday.

A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the meeting was attended by representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, including officers from the Osun State Command and Zone 11, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun), as well as top government officials.

According to the statement, the governor directed security agencies to halt all union-related activities at motor parks in a bid to restore order and prevent a breakdown of law and order.

“After thorough deliberations on the current security situation in the state and in order to restore sanity to all motor parks, the Governor has directed the Police and other security agencies to immediately stop all activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) across motor parks in the state.

“This directive also puts an immediate stop to the collection of levies at all motor parks,” the statement read.

Governor Adeleke further instructed security operatives to arrest anyone claiming to be an official or executive of the union while carrying out activities at any motor park.

“I hereby direct the Police and other security agencies to stop all activities of the union in all our parks. I am not directing the closure of the parks, but no individual should be allowed to operate in the name of the union. Anyone found contravening this order should be arrested and prosecuted for acts capable of disturbing public peace,” the governor said.

The statement added that heads of the various security agencies at the meeting pledged to enforce the directive strictly.

To ensure compliance, Governor Adeleke also approved the immediate establishment of a Rapid Response Squad comprising personnel from all security agencies in the state to monitor motor parks and enforce the government’s directive.