The National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has insisted that no state governor has the constitutional or legal authority to suspend the activities of the union.
His position comes amid the ongoing leadership crisis within the Osun State chapter of the NURTW and the recent decision by Governor Ademola Adeleke to suspend the union’s operations in motor parks across the state.
Speaking on Friday during the inauguration of a seven-member caretaker committee for the Osun State chapter of the union at the NURTW national headquarters in Garki, Abuja, MC Oluomo maintained that the union remains a nationally recognised organisation established under law and is not subject to the control of any state government.
The NURTW president, who was represented by the union’s Deputy National President, Aliyu Issa Ore, said the caretaker committee would oversee the affairs of parks and garages in Osun pending the resolution of the leadership dispute.
The committee is headed by Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba.
‘No Governor Can Suspend Our Union’
According to Ore, several court judgments have already affirmed that governors lack the legal powers to suspend the activities of the NURTW.
He argued that similar attempts by state governments in the past had been successfully challenged in court.
“I have the mandate of the National President to address you today. We have heard that the Osun State Governor suspended the activities of our union, but they do not have such powers,” he said.
“Not a single governor in Nigeria has the authority to suspend the activities of the NURTW because we are not under any state government. The union was established by law, and there are existing legal provisions guiding our operations.”
He added that previous restrictions imposed on the union in states such as Lagos and Oyo were also contrary to existing court rulings.
Adeleke Suspended NURTW Activities Over Violence
The development follows the Osun State Government’s decision to suspend all NURTW activities in motor parks after renewed clashes between rival factions of the union.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, through the state’s Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, announced the suspension as part of measures aimed at restoring peace and improving security.
The government also halted the collection of levies in motor parks and directed security agencies to arrest anyone parading as a union official while the suspension remains in force.
The crisis reportedly escalated after a faction led by Kazeem Oyewale (Asiri Eniba) challenged the leadership of the state’s recognised NURTW chairman, Nurudeen Alowonle.
Explaining the decision to immediately constitute a caretaker committee, Ore said the union could not afford to leave its Osun chapter without leadership, especially with preparations for the state’s forthcoming governorship election already underway.
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He disclosed that the NURTW has an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the transportation of election materials.
According to him, maintaining a functional leadership structure in Osun is necessary to fulfil the union’s responsibilities under that agreement.
“We have an MoU with INEC, and based on the directive of our president, we cannot leave the union without leadership in Osun,” Ore said.
“The caretaker committee will remain in office until every issue affecting the Osun chapter is resolved.”
He formally announced Kazeem Oyewale as chairman of the caretaker committee, stating that the newly inaugurated officials would oversee all union activities in the state pending a permanent resolution of the crisis.