The President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, has raised allegations of bias against the Minister of Labour and Employment, Solomon Lalong.
Baruwa claims that the Minister has taken sides with the faction led by Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede in the ongoing reconciliation process of the union.
In a press statement signed by Comrade Anthony Asogwa Chukwudi, General Secretary of the NURTW, Baruwa stated, “For record purposes, we would like to state here that the Minister held a clandestine meeting with Agbede’s led group of the union on Wednesday, 18th, 2023, in his office where he told the dissident group to organize a fresh National Quadrennial Delegates Conference in contravention of the provisions of the union’s constitution, particularly Article 8 Section 2(1).”
He further explained that Article 8 Section 2(1) of the union’s constitution mandates that the quadrennial delegates conference should be held in the month of August every four years. Baruwa pointed out that this constitution had previously been approved by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in compliance with labour laws.
“For record purposes, we would like to state here that the Minister held a clandestine meeting with Agbede’s led group of the union on Wednesday 18th, 2023 in his office where he told the dissident group to organize a fresh National Quadrennial Delegates Conference in contravention of the provisions of the union’s constitution particularly Article 8 Section 2 (1 ).
“It is pertinent to state here that the above-quoted article provides that the quadrennial delegates conference of the union shall be held in the month of August of every four years.
“Recall that the same constitution was approved by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in accordance with the extant labour laws.
According to an anonymous source who was present at the meeting, the Minister unequivocally instructed the dissident group to proceed with the quadrennial delegates conference and emphasized the need to avoid allowing the union to disintegrate due to the differences between the two factions.
The statement continued, “According to a reliable source who was also present at the meeting but pleaded anonymity the Minister unequivocally said the group should go ahead and conduct a quadrennial delegates conference and that they cannot because of one person allow the union to die or disintegrate.
Baruwa expressed surprise over the Minister’s clandestine meeting, as a reconciliation meeting for both NURTW factions had already been scheduled for October 24, 2023. He asserted that such actions from a government official, expected to be an unbiased mediator, would only worsen the union’s problems.
Furthermore, Baruwa revealed that the group led by Agbede continues to operate unhindered at the National Secretariat of the union despite the Minister’s directive issued in a letter dated October 9, 2023, suspending the operations of both factions and any further election activities.
“It would be recalled that the reconciliation meeting has already been fixed for October 24, 2023, for both groups but we were taken by surprise by the Minister’s clandestine meeting with the dissident group.
“We would like the general public to know that when such a statement is coming from a government official who is expected to be unbiased umpire will further aggravate the problem of the union instead of solving it.
“Also we are shocked to discover that Agbede’s led group are still operating unhindered at the National Secretariat of the union despite the directive issued by the same Minister in a letter dated 9th October 2023 that suspended all the operations of both groups including further conduct of any election.
To clarify the union’s activities, Baruwa mentioned that a special zonal delegates conference was held in the six geopolitical zones of the union on May 24, 2023. Those elected during this conference were sworn in on August 23, 2023, during the 10th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference at Ta’al Hotel in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
In conclusion, the NURTW President called upon Lalong to reconsider his actions and refrain from further complicating the ongoing reconciliation process within the union. He expressed concern that a government official, particularly one with a legal background, should not be seen supporting lawlessness or a “civilian coup d’état.”
“We hereby wish to call on the Minister of Labour and Employment, Solomon Lalong to retrace his steps and desist from the path that would further jeopardize the ongoing reconciliation process in the union ”
“It is most unfortunate and unbecoming of the Minister who is a lawyer to be seen supporting and/or laying credence to lawlessness and “civilian coup d’état.
The press statement also clarified that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) was not imposing Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa on the union, as some had insinuated. Instead, it was highlighted that Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin had taken control of the National Secretariat of the union on August 28, 2023, by force.
The statement emphasized the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s obligation to act in accordance with the law and not issue contradictory directives. It was signed by Comrade Anthony Asogwa Chukwudi, the General Secretary of the NURTW.