Updated: FG assures NURTW of good working relationship as union elects new leaders

Updated: FG assures NURTW of good working relationship as union elects new leaders

 

The Federal Government has promised to work well with the national leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

This came on Wednesday as the union elected new national leaders at its 10th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference held in Abuja.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, while declaring the conference open said his ministry would work with the NURTW new leadership to take the union to the next level.

The minister who was represented by the Registrar, Trade Union, a deputy director in the ministry, Mr Amos Olasupo, urged the union members to close ranks and resolve all issues affecting it.

He said, “This is my first official interaction with you as a union in a gathering like this. Distinguished delegates, as you gather for this important 10th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference, and inauguration of new leaders, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to all the newly elected officers and also to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the dedicated delegates.

“With the inauguration of the new leaders today, I look forward to a good working relationship with your union. It is my hope and belief that the inauguration of the new leaders today will mark a new beginning in your union.

“Let us continue to work together and ensure that all other issues within and outside the union are resolved. Let me reassure you that the Ministry (of Labour and Employment) will work with the new leadership to take the union to the next level.”

Members and leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) across the country on Wednesday stormed Abuja to elect new national leaders.

The elected leaders will direct the affairs of the union for the next four years.
The union has been embroiled in a leadership crisis following attempts by immediate past president of the union, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, to secure a second term by all means.
A report from the NURTW on Wednesday said 15 elected officers from the five zonal councils of the union (South-East, North-Central, South-South North-West and North-East) took the oath of office at the event.
It however disclosed that the delegate conference in the South-West could not be concluded due to the fact that as of 5th of October when the conference was being held in other zones simultaneously, only two state councils from that zone were fully in the NURTW, hence the conference was postponed till further notice.
The positions of president, vice president and National trustee were zoned to the South-West.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the union’s Caretaker Committee, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, said the last four years “had been terrible for the union because of the highhandedness of the past administration of Tajudeen Baruwa.”
His committee, he said, was able to restore sanity to the union by lifting the suspension placed on members and state councils by the former president, Baruwa.
He also explained that his committee was able to settle a backlog of salary arrears and allowances of staff members owed by the past administration.
A former president of the union, Alhaji Najeem Yasin, enjoined the newly inaugurated officers to be up and doing, reminding them that time was not on their side, hence the need to hit the ground running.
Representatives of major players in the nation’s road transport subsector attended the event and presented goodwill messages to the union for the success of the conference.