Modupe Gbadeyanka
Leadership of the Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has been warned by the Lagos State government to do everything within its powers to amicably resolve the crisis within the organization immediately so as to foster peace within the metropolis.
This charge was given by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Oluwatoyin Fayinka, who said investigations into the cause of the problems within the association have commenced with a view to finding a solution to the issues.
While addressing protesters who thronged the Ministry of Transportation to appeal for government intervention in the crisis, Mr Fayinka said the national body of the union has been invited to a meeting with a view to resolving the crisis.
He cautioned the members of RTEAN to refrain from any acts of violence, emphasizing that the state government remains a neutral party in the ongoing feud.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, also presided over a peace meeting between the warring members of the Union and its leadership, assuring that the government will monitor activities of the association to ensure total compliance with their constitution.
He emphasised that the state government will not interfere in the activities of the union but solicited that the national executives should conduct a free and fair election for peace to reign within the group and the State at large.
Extending his appreciation to the state government for insisting on peace within the union, National President of RTEAN, Comrade Oskpamwan Eriyo, expressed surprise at the protest but promised that the executive committee would resolve the crisis and ensure the incident is nipped in the bud.
Revealing the cause of the protests, some of the members claimed that the problem started due to the refusal of state union chairman, Mr Musa Mohammed, to relinquish office at the expiration of his five-year tenure in line with the association’s constitution.
