The leadership of road transport unions, represented by the Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has called upon Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to lift the ban imposed on the unions in the state.
In a show of solidarity, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and civil society joined the peaceful protest organized by the RTEAN and NURTW, marching to the office of Governor Sanwo-Olu in Alausa, Ikeja, to express their demand.
Before the commencement of the protest, Comrade Toro Nuhu, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress, emphasized that the march aimed to appeal to the government for the lifting of the ban. He issued a warning that if their demands were not met, they would be compelled to take drastic measures.
During the protest, various leaders voiced their support for the cause. Comrade Musa Mohammed, popularly known as Maitakobi 1, the Executive National President of RTEAN, highlighted that the protest sought to demonstrate that RTEAN and NURTW members were law-abiding citizens who should not be treated as miscreants in the state. Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, the Secretary General of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Jimoh Oyibo, the President of the Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Senior Staff, and Amb. Muhammad Abubakar Bishara, the Deputy National President, Administration, all echoed this sentiment.
Similarly, Comrade Bello Ismail, representing the NLC, stressed the importance of Lagos State respecting the laws governing unionism. He noted that the actions of the state Governor were in contravention of existing court judgments that had advised the government to uphold the rights of the unions. According to Ismail, since trade unions fall under the Exclusive Legislative List, the powers of Lagos State do not extend to proscribing them.
The road transport unions and their supporters are calling for Governor Sanwo-Olu to reconsider the ban and acknowledge the important role these unions play in the state’s transport sector. They urge the government to respect their rights and recognize their contributions as law-abiding members of society.