By Sunday Oguntuyi, Osogbo
The Osun State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has appointed three-member caretaker committees to oversee the affairs of transport unions across the state following the suspension of the unions’ activities.
The decision was announced in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting of the association and signed by the State ALGON Chairman, Hon. Abiodun Idowu, Secretary, Hon. (Barr.) Olubisi, and Public Relations Officer, Hon. Mufutau Adegbite.
According to the communiqué, the appointments take immediate effect and are aimed at resolving the leadership crisis that has engulfed the transport unions in the state.
The caretaker committee for the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) comprises Chief Kazeem Oyewale as State Chairman, Mutiu Ayinde as State Secretary and Luqman Ahmed as State Treasurer.
For the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Rasheed Ayinde was appointed State Chairman, Mufutau Adebisi as State Secretary and Wahab Maruf Dodo as State Treasurer.
The Motorcyclists/Tricyclists Union caretaker committee consists of Ismaila Raimi as State Chairman, Adebayo Tajudeen as State Secretary and Tajudeen Akeem as State Treasurer.
ALGON reaffirmed that the earlier suspension of the transport union leadership by the local government chairmen remains in force pending further review. It stated that the action was taken in the exercise of the councils’ constitutional powers over public motor parks in line with Paragraph 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The communiqué stated that the caretaker committees were constituted as a temporary measure to ensure the continued provision of transport services and safeguard the interests of transport operators and the commuting public.
It added that the appointments followed extensive consultations with the various branches of the NURTW, RTEAN and motorcycle and tricycle unions, as well as traditional rulers and other relevant stakeholders. ALGON said the caretaker committees would remain in office pending further consultations with the national leadership of the unions for the emergence of substantive state executives.
The association directed that all union property be handed over to the caretaker committees and called on security agencies to provide the necessary support to ensure a smooth transition.
ALGON also commended the Nigeria Police Force for its swift intervention in preventing violence and restoring normalcy at motor parks across the state.
It urged transport operators, union members and other stakeholders to cooperate with the caretaker committees to ensure the smooth operation of motor parks in the 30 local government areas and Ife East Area Office.
The association further appealed to security agencies to sustain surveillance at motor parks and garages to guarantee the safety of transport operators and commuters.
ALGON assured that consultations with relevant stakeholders would continue with a view to finding a lasting solution to the leadership crisis within the transport unions in the state.