RTEAN to Pay NURTW Welfare Tax for Peace in Lagos

February 16, 2021
NURTW RTEAN Welfare fees

By Dipo Olowookere

In order to avert a similar supremacy battle that broke out last week at the Obalende Garage in Lagos, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has been asked to pay a form of tax to its rival association, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

On Monday, the Lagos State government presided over a reconciliatory meeting between the two transport groups on the back of the crisis of last week.

During the meeting in Ikeja, top officials of RTEAN and NURTW spoke on what led to the disturbance of public peace by their respective members.

They both agreed that the ugly situation could have been avoided if necessary actions were earlier taken.

According to the Lagos State Branch Treasurer for NURTW, Mr Mustapha Adekunle, otherwise known as Sego, the trouble was triggered over the control of park unit operations at the garage.

Mr Adekunle explained that the operation of tricycles in one of the units under the control of RTEAN was disrupted by NURTW for their minibus operations.

This was corroborated by the Lagos State Chairman of NURTW, Mr Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, who emphasised that the boundary operations crisis that ensued between the unions could have been averted, just as so many other issues that could have degenerated into crisis had been amicably settled in the past.

On his part, the Lagos State Secretary of RTEAN, Mr Amusan Olalekan, maintained that the clash could have been averted if leaders of both parties had taken proactive measures at resolving issues immediately they ensued just as the Vice-Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of RTEAN, Mr Gbenga Elesho, argued that the decision of NURTW to take over of some parks, which were initially under the control of his union, was one of the reasons for the incident, which caused the destruction of properties.

In order to prevent a similar crisis from happening, it was agreed that pending the return of tricycle operations by NURTW at Obalende, RTEAN will continue with the operation of their minibuses with welfare fees paid to the former.

Both parties also further agreed to sign a peace deal on Tuesday at the Ministry of Transportation.

It was gathered that the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Oluwatoyin Fayinka, was present at the meeting.

He sued for peace, noting that last week’s incident was worrisome due to the fact that both parties had cohabited peacefully for a long time.

Dipo Olowookere

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan.

Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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