NURTW crisis: CWC passes vote of no confidence in Baruwa

NURTW crisis: CWC passes vote of no confidence in Baruwa

The Central Working Committee of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has passed a vote of no confidence in the embattled ex-President of the union, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa.

The CWC made up of all elected national officers, head of departments, states council chairmen, zonal chairmen and secretaries met at the union’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

Baruwa with the backing of the some leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had tried to force himself on the union for another term of four years despite opposition from members.

A statement obtained on Thursday from the union said the CWC members took the decision after highlighting some of the atrocities reportedly committed during Baruwa’s four-year tenure (August 29, 2019 to August 28, 2023).

The CWC alleged that Baruwa during tenure as union’s president took the union backward on international ranking by failing to pay affiliations’ dues to affected organisations.

For instances, he was said to have reduced the membership strength of the union from the International Transport Federation (ITF) from 400,000 to160,000 because of he neglected payment of dues.

The NURTW was later deregistered and allegedly did the same thing at the NLC.

He was accused of not rendering accounts on what accrued to the union as a result of the NURTW’s participation in INEC conducted 2023 general elections.

“Thirdly, he was accused of constant breach of the union’s constitution. For instance, the constitution stipulates that the union must hold its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at least every six months, but his four years tenure, he only had NEC meeting on four occasions,” it stated.

He was also accused of not giving adequate attention to the issue of members and staff welfare.

They alleged that there were cases when members of staff were transferred to outstations without being paid allowances for relocation, hence subjecting them to unusual hardship. Apart from that, he was said to have abandoned the practice of organising training programmes both local or international for staff and members throughout his four-year tenure.

He was said to have subjected the union to unknown hardship for his failure to organize proper zonal delegate conference

“The vote of no confidence message, which was signed by all the members of the CWC, was sent to relevant department in the Ministry of Labour and Employment,” the statement said.