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NURTW decries invasion of its secretariat, mobilises state chapters to defend union
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has issued a directive to its state chapters, urging them to mobilise and resist any attempts to take over their union.
This was in response to an alleged invasion of its National Secretariat by security operatives.
The Union’s President, Prof. Tajudeen Baruwa, during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, denounced the invasion as an “egregious and undemocratic” action.
“This alarming act was carried out with the intent to undermine the democratically elected leadership of our Union, led by Comrade Baruwa, and install a puppet leadership from Lagos State. The NURTW calls all its state chapters to begin mobilization across the nation to resist this attempt at taking over our Union.” Baruwa said .
He urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to withdraw the police operatives from the National Headquarters of NURTW.
He argued that such government interference in the internal affairs of a trade union blatantly violates democratic principles and contradicts established legal processes for addressing industrial disputes as enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution.
Baruwa urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to take immediate steps to protect their Union from hijacking forces.
However, the President of the NURTW warned that if these unlawful actions persist, they may be compelled to defend the rights and interests of their members and the Nigerian people as a whole.
“We are not a war booty that can be handed over as a trophy to anyone as compensation for whatever reasons,” Baruwa added.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the NURTW Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, Alhaji Ibrahim Sanda Kuje, gave a detailed account of the invasion at a separate briefing.
He stated that the incident occurred on Monday, at about 7:00 am when a group claiming to be Park Management Committee from Lagos, Ogun, and Osun mobilized thugs and hoodlums to attack their National Secretariat.
“They attacked and chased away all the National officers, including the National President, while the police watched them. This is an illegality that is being influenced by some top government officials using security agents to back these disgruntled elements who have renounced their membership from the Union. We appeal to our members across the states to remain calm but be on standby,” Kuje said.
He appealed to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently to avoid any breakdown of law and order in the Federal Capital Territory.
