SNOOP COMMUNICATIONS

 

'Sego Not Lagos NURTW Member'

By Lanre Olaleye

Despite the affirmation of Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa as the dully elected National President of the National Union of Road and Transport Workers  (NURTW) by the National Industrial Court (NIC) recently, there are indications to suggest peace is still far-fetched in the Lagos State chapter of the union.

A National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja on Monday 11th March 2024 affirmed Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa as the validly elected NURTW President for the second term just as it sacked the Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede-led Chairman Caretaker Committee.

Justice Oyewumi also restrained forthwith the former President of the union, Comrade Najeem Usman Yasin who was also the Chairman Board of Trustees from interfering in the day-to-day running of the affairs of the union. She held that Najeem can act as chairman of the board.

The presiding judge while delivering her judgment on the leadership crisis rocking the union also held that the Zonal Delegates Conference across the six zonal councils of the union held on 24th May 2023 where  Baruwa emerged as President for a second term in office was valid.

The court also validated the Quadrennial National Delegate Conference held on August 23rd 2023 at Ta’aL Hotels Lafia, Nasarawa State where the President and other national officers emerged and inaugurated.

Oyewumi declared as illegal, null and void and unconstitutional the National Delegates Conference held on 25th October 2023 where the so-called Acting President, Alhaji Isa Ore and his National Administrative Council were said to have emerged. 

She ruled that there was no evidence of crisis in the union and therefore there was no basis for the invocation of  ‘doctrine of necessity’ which led to the constitution of the so-called Caretaker Committee.

The NIC Court ruling has therefore permanently checkmated the inordinate ambition of the embattled Lagos State Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (a.k.a. MC Oluomo) of becoming the National President of the union.

It would be recalled that MC Oluomo had declined to hand over the reign of power to Mustapha Adekunle (a.k.a. Sego) as earlier agreed by stakeholders in the state. Sources say Oluomo wanted to forcefully foist himself on the national body through his connection with the Presidency.

Oluomo's subterfuge moves had reportedly been resisted by the national body and indeed the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the umbrella body of the union who had viewed the alleged invasion and occupation of the national secretariat of the union by suspected thugs as total disregard to it's independence and statues.

Speaking on the recent court judgement and it's implication for Lagos State chapter, an influential member of the union who craved anonymity told our correspondent that the judgement has far reaching implication as all the state councils throughout the federation would have to conduct fresh state congresses to elect new state executive committees.

"It is a normal process, a new National President has been affirmed by the court. Hence, state congresses must be held across the federation to elect their various state executive committees. There is no issue about that," Our sources revealed.

Asked to comment on the proposed swearing-in of Mustapha Adekunle as the Chairman of Lagos State council, our sources asked rhetorically: "Is he a member of the NURTW? How can you become the chairman of a union you do not belong to. Was he issued a certificate of return by the National secretariat of the body? 

Proded further on the matter, the source recalled the crisis that engulfed the Lagos council about two years ago. The crisis prompted the national body to place an indefinite suspension on Oluomo.

"He never challenged the suspension in any court. Only for him to pull out of the union to join Lagos State Park and Garages with some members including Sego. All of them are members of Park and Garages and not members of the NURTW. 

"If Oluomo and his group in Lagos are claiming to be members of NURTW, ask them to produce their certificates to validate the election that brought them into office.

"As far as we are concerned, Sego is not a member of NURTW unless he reapply for membership. Even at that a fresh election would have to be conducted and the dully elected state chairman would be sworn-in by the re-elected National President." Our source concluded.