NURTW crisis: Agbede accuses NLC of bias

NURTW crisis: Agbede accuses NLC of bias

The new leadership of the National Union Of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) headed by Tajudeen Agbede has accused the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of being biased and partial in its handling of the crisis rocking the union.

It also warned that the NLC as an umbrella body of all trade unions in the country could lose its credibility.

The group in a statement released earlier Wednesday morning was reacting to a communiqué issued by the NLC accusing the police of alleged invasion of the NURTW secretariat in Abuja.

The statement signed by Agbede and another principal officer of the union, Kayode Agbeyangi, expressed the union’s disappointment at the actions and utterances of the NLC since the beginning of the crisis.

It stated, “The NLC leadership threw all caution to the winds while throwing their weight behind (Tajudeen) Baruwa, a party in the crisis.

“The NURTW expressed surprise at the new love between Baruwa and the leadership of NLC, bearing in mind that NURTW under Baruwa did not participate in any NLC activities/events.

“It is on record that in the first three years of his tenure, NURTW neglected NLC activities. In fact, he (Baruwa) started romancing them (NLC) now when it dawned on him that he would be hiring their service in his struggle for his unjust cause.”

The statement recalled that at the initial stage of the crisis, series of letters were written to the leadership of the NLC to intimate them about the atrocities of Baruwa but the NLC failed to act.

“On three different occasions, the NLC invited our members from Lagos State council to a meeting to settle the rift between Baruwa and Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo). While Oluomo and his executives travelled all the way from Lagos to Abuja to honour the NLC invitation, Baruwa who resides in Abuja did not turn up for the meeting in those three occasions and the NLC did not sanction him for insubordination.

“In fact, he ended up slamming a suspension order on MC Oluomo. He was eventually forced out of NURTW to join the Lagos State government-owned Parks and Garages Committee.”

The NURTW said that it was sad that the NLC that did not act on series of letters/ complaints sent to them by NURTW members and other stakeholders is defending Baruwa.

The NURTW explained that the new leaders were inaugurated after the expiration of the four-year tenure of Baruwa in accordance with the provision of the union’s constitution.

“Our new leaders were inaugurated in line with our constitution and we would like to appeal to the NLC not allow itself to be used by Comrade Baruwa to undermine our union’s constitution.”

On the presence of the police at the union secretariat, the statement said, “We as law-abiding organisation requested police protection and it was granted. It is the duty of the police to maintain law and order and that is exactly what they are doing. The NLC should commend the police for being proactive, not to vilify them.”

The NURTW also said the name of President Bola Tinubu should not be dragged into the crisis, stating that the crisis had been on since 2019 shortly after the Baruwa inauguration and that members only endured him for four years.