Soludo bans NURTW, other transport unions from parks in Anambra

The Anambra State Government has banned all transport unions and sacked touts from motor parks in the state.

This was announced in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu, on Thursday as he noted that the ban covers tricycle and shuttle bus unions.

Only government-accredited agents are now permitted to collect tolls at motor parks.

This follows a prior disagreement between the state government and transport unions over the revenue collection system, which resulted in road transport workers embarking on strike action last week.

According to Nwosu, security reports indicated that persons are using the guise of being part of such unions to orchestrate breakdown of law and order in the state.

The state government asked all the motor park touts to proceed to register in their various localities for government-sponsored training and life-supporting skills.

The statement partly reads; “In the light of the above and in order to forestall breakdown of law and order, the state government hereby suspends all tricycle and shuttle bus unions in the state with immediate effect for six months, pending further investigations and possible harmonisation of the unions which shall have a leadership known to, and recognised by, the state Government.

“Consequent on this and as a follow up to government’s recent consultation with the direct representatives of tricycle and shuttle bus operators, the government has considered their plea and decided to offer them a convenient payment option and other fringe benefits that could add value to their well-being.

“Tricycle operators now have the option of paying N4,000 weekly or N15,000 monthly. However, tricycle operators in the eight local government areas affected by curfew will pay N3,000 weekly or N12,000 monthly. They will revert to the normal rates of N4,000 weekly or N15,000 monthly as soon as the curfew is lifted.

“Shuttle bus operators will pay N5,000 weekly or N20,000 monthly. But because of the ASUU strike that resulted in the closure of universities, NANS shuttle bus will pay N2,500 weekly or N10,000 monthly. This group will also revert to the normal rates of N5,000 weekly or N20,000 monthly as soon as the strike is called off. Taxi will pay N4,375 weekly or N17,500 monthly. The Township buses will pay N5,000 weekly or N20,000 monthly. Mini truck and Pickup will pay N5,000 weekly or N20,000 monthly respectively. Intra-state will pay N6,250 weekly or N25,000 monthly.

“Loading and offloading in government (public) parks will now be free. Moving forward, every compliant commercial vehicle driver will get a free health insurance cover that would enable the insured to have access to basic health and emergency services in any Anambra State hospital.

“Government wishes to reiterate its ban on touts (agboro) and cult groups that are used to enforce illegal collection of tolls and taxes. Only government-accredited agents are entitled to collect tolls. Alternatively, the commercial vehicle operator could go and pay at any of the banks or any Anambra State Internal Revenue Service pay-point nearest to him.”