Adeleke suspends NURTW activities, as ALGON unveil caretaker committees
By Ismail Azeez
The Osun State Government has ordered the immediate suspension of all National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) activities in motor parks across the state.
Concurrently, the Osun State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) announced caretaker management committees to oversee transport unions pending the resolution of an ongoing leadership crisis.
Governor Ademola Adeleke issued the suspension directive on Thursday following an Osun State Security Council meeting.
The session was attended by heads and representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), alongside other security agencies and senior government officials.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government explained that the decision followed a comprehensive review of the state’s security situation.
Governor Adeleke directed law enforcement agencies to halt all NURTW activities in parks state-wide, including the collection of union levies.
He further instructed security operatives to arrest anyone claiming to be an official or executive of the union within any motor park.
Adeleke clarified that while motor parks will remain open to the public, no individual or group may operate under the union’s banner.
“Anyone defying the order faces arrest and prosecution for disturbing public peace,” the governor is quoted as saying.
To enforce compliance, the governor ordered the immediate establishment of a joint security Rapid Response Squad.
Meanwhile, Osun State ALGON noted that the leadership clash within the NURTW had escalated into an urgent security concern.
In a communiqué signed by ALGON Chairman Hon. Samuel Idowu Abiodun, General Secretary Hon. Olubisi Oladosu, and Public Relations Officer Hon. Mufutau Adegbite, the association confirmed that the suspension of transport union leadership across all 30 local government areas and the Ife East Area Office in Modakeke will remain active pending further review.
ALGON stated that its intervention relies on the constitutional mandate of local governments to manage public motor parks under Paragraph 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The association instructed outgoing executives to hand over all union property to the newly formed caretaker committees and requested security coverage to ensure a peaceful transition.
To maintain uninterrupted transport services, ALGON announced interim leadership for the affected unions.
The NURTW caretaker committee will be headed by Chief Kazeem Oyewale as State Chairman, Mutiu Ayinde as State Secretary, and Luqman Ahmed as State Treasurer.
The Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) interim committee will be led by Rasheed Ayinde as Chairman, Mufutau Adebisi as Secretary, and Wahab Maruf Dodo as Treasurer.
Additionally, the Motorcycle and Tricycle Unions caretaker committee will feature Ismaila Raimi as Chairman, Adebayo Tajudeen as Secretary, and Tajudeen Akeem as Treasurer.