Ekiti threatens drivers’ unions over violence
The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, has warned that government would proscribe the state chapters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) if the two bodies are involved in violence.
Egbeyemi, giving the warning yesterday when the leadership of the two drivers’ unions signed a peace accord, said nobody would be allowed to disrupt the peace of the state.
According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, the two unions expressed satisfactions with the term of the peace deal brokered by the state government.
The NURTW Chairman, Mr Oso Farotimi, and his RTEAN counterpart, Chief Rotimi Olanbiwonnu, led other officials of the union to sign the peace agreement.
The peace accord was sequel to a meeting held by the Deputy Governor with the representatives of the two unions on November 6, 2018 to find a lasting solution to violent clashes among their members.
The Deputy Governor advised members of the two unions to regard themselves as brothers and not as enemies in the pursuit of their daily bread.
Egbeyemi stressed that the full weight of the law would be visited on any union member who unleashed mayhem in the name of inter-union rivalry.
The union members, who signed the agreement under a convivial atmosphere, pledged their commitment to the implementation of the terms in the interest of peace in the state.
The terms of agreement stipulate that each union should collect its dues from its respective members.
It was also agreed that money realized from patrol on the Ikare route and all other routes shall be jointly shared by both unions.
It was also resolved that each union should maintain its present parks without trespassing to another park.
The two unions pledged in the agreement that any union that causes disturbances/riots in Ekiti State shall be banned.