NURTW state chairmen threaten to pull out of NLC over Baruwa

NURTW state chairmen threaten to pull out of NLC over Baruwa

Elected state chairmen of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have warned the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) against interfering in the internal affairs of the union.
Specifically, they warned the NLC not to impose the former NURTW President, Tajudeen Baruwa, on the union.
They threatened that the union might be forced to pull out of the NLC if it failed to stay clear of the NURTW internal affairs.
The state chairmen gave the warning in a letter titled ‘Call to Order’, which was addressed to both the president and the general secretary of the NLC.
The leaders were reacting to a recent outburst by leadership of the NLC, condemning the intervention of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The NURTW state chairmen asked the NLC to stop dragging the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, into the issue, stating that the minister as a father figure was only trying to mediate to ensure peace.
The leaders said the NURTW was capable of handling its affairs without interference from any external body.
Part of the letter read, “We are capable of addressing our internal challenges with the support of our past leaders and veterans through the constitutional provision of our union.
“In fact, we have already taken proactive steps towards making sure that the extant provision of our constitution are strictly adhere to.”
The NURTW state chairmen informed the NLC that the tenure of Baruwa had since expired and efforts were ongoing to elect new national leaders.
It added, “Our union constitution provides for zonal elections followed by national affirmation towards electing new leadership. And this constitutional requirements have already manifested in the zonal elections that were conducted on the 5th October, 2023.”
The union warned that it might be forced to embark on street protests and total occupation of the NLC if its leadership continued to meddle in the NURTW internal affairs.
The union leaders the NURTW under Baruwa was zero in terms of performance or relevance in all NLC organs/activities, stressing that the union might be forced to exercise its rights of freedom of association by pulling out of the NLC.