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Tag: NURTW

  • NURTW directs MC Oluomo to vacate Lagos secretariat

    NURTW directs MC Oluomo to vacate Lagos secretariat

    The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has directed the former state chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, to vacate the union’s state secretariat in Agege.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that last month, MC Oluomo pulled out of the union after being suspended by the national body over alleged insubordination.

     

    Lagos State Government subsequently appointed him chairman of parks management committee to oversee the affairs of public transportation in the state.

     

    At a press briefing during the weekend, chairman of the caretaker committee for Lagos state council of the union,

     

    Fatai Adesina, who was appointed by the national body, appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to compel MC Oluomo and his colleagues to stop using NURTW secretariat since they are no longer members of the union.

     

    “lt’s very proper and negates common sense. You renounce your membership of the union but you still hold tight to the property of the union,” Adesina said.

     

    “We are appealing to the state government to help talk to the members of the committee to vacate our office. That complex belongs to the NURTW and since you said you are no longer a member, courtesy demands that you drop all the union’s property in your possession.”

     

    Adesina stressed that one of the terms of reference given to the caretaker committee is to collect all the union’s property, including cash, from MC Oluomo’s administration.

     

    It would be recalled that Lagos State government had appointed MC Oluomo as the chairman of its newly constituted Parks Management Committee.

     

    MC Oluomo was sacked on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, by the national body of the union, for not showing remorse after his initial suspension for insubordination and abuse of office.

     

    The appointment was contained in a statement signed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso. The new committee would be overseeing the affairs of all motor parks and garages in the state.

  • Crisis: NURTW appeals to Sanwo-Olu

    Crisis: NURTW appeals to Sanwo-Olu

    The leadership of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has appealed to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to sustain the peaceful coexistence between the union and state government.

    The NURTW National President, Mr Tajudeen Baruwa, in a statement on Friday, thanked the governor for the support he had been giving the union over the years.

    “The body’s national leadership appealed to governor Sanwo-Olu, to allow the existing harmonious relationship between NURTW and Lagos State Government to continue and that it will be extended to the newly appointed officers of the union,’ he said.

    The president said that the union had inaugurated a nine-man caretaker committee to oversee and coordinate operations of the union across Lagos state.

    He said the committee was constituted following the dissolution of the State Administrative Council (SAC).

    Baruwa said the caretaker committee was set up to allow for continuity in the administration of the transport activities.

    The president added that the move was to ensure that members of the union continued to support the government’s master plan for transport development.

    “The nine-man caretaker committee will be led by Mr Fatai Adeshina, a stakeholder in the transportation sector, and the committee will operate for next three months as stipulated in the union’s constitution.

    “Other members of the committee are Mr Sunday Yusuf, Abraham Onifade, Jamiu Erinfolami, Ismaila Ojora, Lekan Ariyibi, Murtala Lawal, Taiwo Azeez while Kayode Agbeyangi would serve as the secretary,” he said.

    Baruwa said that members of the committee were carefully selected to ensure sanity in the transportation sector.

    “The union knows that they will effectively manage affairs of Lagos chapter after SAC dissolution, which was done to bring sanity to the union’s operation across the metropolis,” he said.

    The Lagos state government recently appointed an ex-chairman of the state’s chapter of NURTW, Musiliu Akinsanya popularly called MC Oluomo, as the chairman of its Parks Management Committee.

    A former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, was appointed as the Liaison Officer between the government and the committee.

  • MC Oluomo vs Istijaba: NURTW, TOOAN boys clash in Lagos

    MC Oluomo vs Istijaba: NURTW, TOOAN boys clash in Lagos

    There was pandemonium Friday morning at the Meiran – Ijaiye axis and Ekoro road in the Abule-Egba area.

    Findings show that the fight broke out amongst transport union in Lagos state.

     

    Findings show that members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN) were involved in the francas.

    The rivals are loyalists of suspended Lagos NURTW Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya a.k.a. MC Oluomo, and Istijaba of TOOAN.

    The state chairman of TOOAN Azeez Abiola, Istijaba and Musiliu Akinsanya a.k.a. MC Oluomo, suspended NURTW chairman have been at loggerheads over personal and superiority matters.

    The matter has now degenerated with the open use of charms, guns, machetes and other weapons.

    Meanwhile the Lagos State Police Command has deployed its operatives to the scene and assured residents of safety of lives and properties.

    Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin said clashes are no longer ongoing at Ekoro Road and Oke-Odo.

    ”Men of nearby divisions and the RRS are fully on ground, and the areas are absolutely calm”, the spokesman tweeted.

     

  • TOOAN and NURTW members clash in Abule-Egba

    TOOAN and NURTW members clash in Abule-Egba

    Members of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) clashed on Friday in the Abule-Egba area of Lagos State.

     

    It was gathered that the fight caused panic in the Meiran–Ijaiye axis and Ekoro road.

     

    Residents of the area said the fight caused panic.

     

    The rivals are loyalists of suspended Lagos NURTW Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya a.k.a. MC Oluomo, and Istijaba whose real name is Azeez Abiola.

     

    Istijaba is the Lagos State Chairman of TOOAN.

     

    However, police operatives have been deployed to restore calm in the area.

     

    Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin tweeted, “Men of nearby divisions and the RRS are fully on the ground, and the areas are absolutely calm.”

  • NURTW: Police, army avert clash between loyalists to MC Oluomo and Istijabah

    NURTW: Police, army avert clash between loyalists to MC Oluomo and Istijabah

    There was heavy police and soldiers presence at Ijaiye Bus Stop in the Agbado area of the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, on Monday, to avert the clash between road transport unionists loyal to two factional leaders in the state: Musiliu Akinsanya popularly called MC Oluomo; and Azeez Abiola, aka Istijabah.

     

    Five patrol vans of security personnel who were on a joint mission in the area were seen.

     

    The fully armed policemen came in four patrol vans, while fierce-looking, gun-wielding soldiers stormed the bus stop in a van and remained there from morning till about 4pm when they left.

     

    Over 100 area boys and foot soldiers of both MC Oluomo and Istijabah seethed with rage as they stood just opposite the security agents.

     

    It was gathered that security agents got intelligence that MC Oluomo boys planned to violently take over the park controlled by Istijabah and his lieutenants.

     

    “About 40 policemen and 12 soldiers came very this morning to prevent a clash between Istijabah and MC Oluomo boys.

     

    “There would have been a violent clash if not for the presence of the security personnel who came in five vehicles,” he said.

     

    The situation caused panic as traders shut their stalls over the fear of a possible clash between the two factions.

     

    “We were terrified since morning and had to shut our shops and go back home. We just open now after the area boys and the soldiers left,” a source said.

     

    Efforts to reach MC Oluomo and Istijabah proved abortive as of press time.

     

    Recall that MC Oluomo and Istijabah boys clashed last week in the Fagba, Ogba and Agege areas of Lagos over the control of parks and ticket sales.

     

    MC Oluomo, formerly the chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, and now the chairman of the Lagos State Parks Committee, has been embroiled in a protracted conflict with Istijabah, the state chairman of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, an affiliate union of NURTW.

     

    MC Oluomo had rejected Istijabah as TOOAN chairman in the state and the national body of NURTW in Abuja had suspended him (MC Oluomo) which led to his withdrawal from the union and the suspension of NURTW by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu government.

     

    The governor subsequently appointed MC Oluomo as the parks management committee chairman despite public outrage and warnings of fresh violence.

     

    According to a 2021 report by the International Centre for Investigative Report, the Lagos chapter of NURTW generates about N123.08bn annually, which could service the annual budget of Nasarawa, Niger, and Yobe states put together.

  • BREAKING: Lagos govt makes MC Oluomo head of Parks Mgt body

    BREAKING: Lagos govt makes MC Oluomo head of Parks Mgt body

    Hours after NURTW sack, Lagos State Government has appointed Musiliu Akinsanya popularly called MC Oluomo, as the chairman of its Parks Management Committee.

    This was contained in a press statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, titled, “Lagos govt sets up Parks Management Committee”.

    An ex-Permanent Secretary, Dr. Taiwo Salaam, was also appointed as the secretary of the committee while Sulyman Ojora was appointed as the Deputy Chairman.

    The appointments were announced less than four weeks after the Lagos State Government denied plans to appoint MC Oluomo chairman of the parts committee.

    The statement read, “The Lagos State Government has set up a committee to oversee the affairs of all motor parks and garages in the state.

    “This is in fulfillment of the Government’s promise to ensure that events in the National Union of Road Transport Workers are not allowed to threaten law and order.

    “The Government has, therefore, exercised its constitutional powers to ensure that no vacuum, which can disrupt the peace of our dear state,is allowed to exist in the parks. This is a duty we owe all Lagosians and visitors.

    “Members of the committee, who have been selected following consultations with stakeholders in the sector, are:

    1. Mr. Hakeem Odumosu (AIG Rtd) – Government Liaison Officer
    2. Alh Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya – Chairman
    3. Alh Sulyman B. Ojora – (Deputy Chairman )
    4. Dr. Taiwo Olufemi Salaam (Secretary)
    5. Comrade Olayiwola Lemboye
    6. Alh Mustapha Adekunle
    7. Alh Ganiyu Shittu
    8. Alh Mukaila Runsewe
    9. Alh Sulyman Yusuf
    10. Alh Mufutau Mutiu
    11. Alh Yinka Hassan
    12. Alh Sunday Ogunleye
    13. Alh Moshood Omojowa
    14. Alh Ismaila Aigoro
    15. Alh Ibrahim Yusuf. O
    16. Alh Akeem Tijani
    17. Mrs Omolabake Adelakun
    18. Comrade Kazeem Hassan
    19. Alh Wasiu Amole
    20. Alh Ganiyu Ayinde
    21. Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye
    22. John Victor Owolabi
    23. Saburi Salami
    24. Ibrahim Onitiju
    25. Odusanya Gbenga

    “Members of the committee are to report to the Ministry of Transportation, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

    “The Government on March 10 suspended NURTW operations in all parks and garages, following the tension sparked by some events in the union.”

  • MC Oluomo reacts to NURTW sack, says laughable

    MC Oluomo reacts to NURTW sack, says laughable

    Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo has reacted to his sack as chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos council, and the dissolution of the council’s executive by the National Administrative Council (NAC).

    Akinsanya said the NAC’s action was laughable as all the union members in the state have pulled out of the national body.

    The dissolution statement was jointly signed by NURTW National President, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, and General Secretary, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Ya’u.

    The duo announced the Lagos State Council Secretary, Seyi Bankole, as the new head of NURTW in Lagos.

    MC Olu Omo reiterated that his earlier suspension was unconstitutional.

    According to him, the dissolution has no effect because the activity of the state council has been suspended by the Lagos State government.

    He wondered why the NURTW President is acting outside the constitution and hell-bent on destroying the union activities in Lagos just as he did in some states in the Southwest.

    “That is part of the maladministration of the President that we talked about in our former briefings; the dissolution doesn’t make any sense. However, people must know that we do not have any problem with the national body but the President,” he said.

    Akinsanya said the union members are waiting for the announcement of the Lagos State government on the appointment of park managers in the state.

    “We’ll be waiting to see how the person appointed to run the affairs of the union will act. The union has already been suspended. Is the national body saying they are more powerful than the state government? Announcing the sack of people already pulled out of the national body is a joke and laughable,” he said.

    Akinsanya urged members of the union in the state to remain calm.

  • NURTW finally sacks MC Oluomo, replaces him with Seyi Bankole

    NURTW finally sacks MC Oluomo, replaces him with Seyi Bankole

    The National Union of Road Transport Workers has finally sacked Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya as the chairman of the Lagos state chapter.

    The National Administrative Council of the union made this known in a statement titled ‘Dissolution of Lagos State Administrative Council’, jointly signed by its national president, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, and general secretary, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Ya’u.

    The union hinged the sack on the tenets embedded in the union’s constitution.

    The Lagos state chapter secretary, Seyi Bankole has been announced as the new head of NURTW in the state.

    “MC Oluomo has been sacked as Lagos chairman. We had a meeting last night. We have replaced him,” a national officer of the union said.

    He added that Oluomo’s withdrawal from the union doesn’t hold any ground saying its not acceptable to them.

    It was gathered that there is a leadership crisis rocking the NURTW in Lagos, leading to MC Oluomo and his supporters pulling out of the union on March 10.

    MC Oluomo, who had been in a running battle with the national body of the union in Abuja, was earlier suspended for alleged insubordination.

    The National Administrative Council had initially pardoned MC Oluomo when the leadership of NLC intervened but Oulomo refused to tender an apology.

    “The National Administrative Council during its meeting of March 15, 2022, graciously passed a resolution to grant pardon to the suspended state chairman if he shows remorse and tenders unreserved apology to the union.

    “However, up until this moment the suspended chairman has bluntly refused to do so; hence, the decision to take action against the Lagos State administrative council by dissolving same,” the statement read in part.

    “The National administrative council in the exercise of the powers conferred on it by Article 17, section 2. subsections (i) and (ii) of the constitution of the union, during its meeting of April 5th, 2022, has dissolved the Lagos State administrative council forthwith.

    “In view of the fact that nature abhors a vacuum and in line with Article 42 section 4, the State Secretary, Seyi Bankole is hereby directed to take over the running of the affairs of Lagos State council pending the constitution of the caretaker committee after due consultations with appropriate relevant authorities, meanwhile, all members of the dissolved state administrative council are hereby directed to handover all property of the Union, including cash to the State Secretary.

    “On the strength of the above development, therefore, all members of the union in Lagos State and beyond, including members of the public are hereby kindly requested to henceforth stop dealing with members of the dissolved Lagos State administrative council on issues concerning the union.”

    Recall that the activities of the NURTW in Lagos has been suspended by Lagos state government over the crisis rocking it.

  • Murder trial: Court grants Kunle Poly N1m bail

    Murder trial: Court grants Kunle Poly N1m bail

    A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos State, on Monday, granted bail in the sum of one million Naira to the Lagos Island Branch B chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW) charged with murder.

    The NURTW Chairman, Azeez Lawal (a.k.a Kunle Poly), is charged along with one Adekanbi Wahab, 38.

    Chief Magistrate Linda Balogun said on Monday that Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advised that a prima facie case had been established against the defendants.

    According to Balogun, Lawal, aged 48, is to be tried for accessory after the fact to murder while Wahab will face trial for membership of an unlawful society.

    She added that the DPP advised that three other defendants, whose names were mentioned in the advice though they were charged separately from the two defendants, should be discharged.

    She transferred the case to a high court.

    A lawyer from the DPP, Mrs O. R. Saliu, had told the court that the legal advice was ready and in the court’s file.

    Following an application by counsel to both defendants, Mr Adeshina Okulana, who told the court that the defendants had been in custody for 78 days, the chief magistrate granted each of them one million Naira bail.

    Balogun also ordered that the defendants should produce two sureties each as part of the bail condition.

    She held that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler or religious leader, adding that both sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

    She held that a self-employed person would not stand as the surety, adding that any civil servant wishing to stand as the surety must get a letter from the Head of Service of Lagos State.

    Balogun adjourned the case until May 11 for report on filing of the case at a high court.

    The defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, murder and membership of an unlawful society.

    They were remanded for an initial period of 30 days on Jan. 27 and another 30 days on Feb. 28.

    Balogun earlier remanded the defendants at the Police Zonal Monitoring Unit, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, and subsequently, at Ikoyi Custodial Centre.

    The alleged offences contravene Section 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and Section 3 of the Anti-cultism Law of Lagos State, 2021.

  • NURTW: Lagos govt searches for new park managers

    NURTW: Lagos govt searches for new park managers

    Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, on Monday said the Lagos State Government is on the search for people who are familiar with the transport sector, to appoint as park managers following the suspension of the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union, NURTW, in the state.

     

    In his words: “It (the NURTW crisis) came suddenly and it is not every time you can begin to appoint people but you have to look for people who are familiar with the sector, those are the kind of people you want to put in that position.”

     

    The NURTW chapter in Lagos reportedly generates about N123bn annually, according to a 2021 report by the International Centre for Investigative Report.

     

    A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain in Lagos, Taofik Gani, had urged Sanwo-Olu not to hand over the collection of transport levy to Alpha Beta Consulting.

     

    Recall that the Sanwo-Olu government had on March 10, 2022, suspended all operations of NURTW in the state following the leadership crisis that engulfed the union and the subsequent withdrawal of Lagos NURTW Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo.

     

    In a statement on March 10, 2022, titled, ‘Lagos Suspends NURTW From Parks’ and signed by Omotoso, the state government had said, “After considering the provisions of the law, the Government hereby suspends the activities of NURTW, which must cease to operate in all parks and garages in Lagos State.

     

    “The Government will set up a Committee to immediately take control of the parks and garages. Members of the committee will be key stakeholders in the sector.”

     

    Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, Temitope Adewale, had said, “The House is fully aware of developments in the transportation union and now that the crisis has resulted in the banning of NURTW activities in Lagos, it is clear to state that all parks, garages and parking activities will be under the Lagos State Parking Authority as stipulated by law.

     

    “By law, the state’s Parking Authority has a General Manager on whose shoulders the responsibility now falls to manage the parks at the moment. The law approves a General Manager for the Parking Authority.”