Oluomo kicks as NURTW dissolves Lagos Council

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has dissolved its Lagos State council under the chairmanship of Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.

NURTW made this known in a statement titled, “Dissolution of Lagos State Administrative Council”, jointly signed by its national president, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, and general secretary, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Ya’u.

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The dissolution of the council was the climax of the protracted crisis that has rocked the union for weeks which hitherto led to the suspension of Oluomo by the union as well as the suspension of the NURTW’s activities by the Lagos State Government.

Daily Trust reports that Oluomo and his loyalists had earlier pulled out of the union shortly after his suspension.

Sources told our correspondent that prior to the dissolution, efforts were made to get the suspended chairman to retrace his steps and apologise to no avail.

“There was no form of remorse from the suspended chairman and the option given to him to apologise was rebuffed. We were left with no other option than to dissolve the council,” a source said.

National Administrative Council (NAC) of the NURTW explained that MC Oluomo was granted a pardon after the mediation of the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and other leaders but he refused to apologise.

NAC, during its meeting on March 15, 2022, graciously passed a resolution to grant pardon to the suspended state chairman if he shows remorse and tenders an unreserved apology to the union.

The statement said, “However, up until this moment the suspended chairman has bluntly refused to do so; hence, the decision to take action against the Lagos State administrative council by dissolving same.

“The National administrative council, in the exercise of the powers conferred on it by Article 17, section 2. Sub-sections (i) and (ii) of the constitution of the union, during its meeting of April 5th, 2022, has dissolved the Lagos State administrative council forthwith.

“In view of the fact that nature abhors a vacuum and in line with Article 42 section 4, the State Secretary, Seyi Bankole, is hereby directed to take over the running of the affairs of Lagos State council pending the constitution of the caretaker committee after due consultations with appropriate relevant authorities.

“Meanwhile, all members of the dissolved state administrative council are hereby directed to hand over all property of the Union, including cash to the State Secretary.

“On the strength of the above development, therefore, all members of the union in Lagos State and beyond, including members of the public are hereby kindly requested to henceforth stop dealing with members of the dissolved Lagos State administrative council on issues concerning the union.”

Oluomo kicks

A spokesperson to MC Oluomo, Jimoh Buhari, in a chat with Daily Trust said the dissolution has no effect because his principal has since withdrawn from the union while the government has also banned the union’s activities.

He said MC Oluomo and his people are solely behind the decision of the Lagos State Government to ban the union’s activities, adding that the dissolution was unconstitutional.

Buhari accused the NURTW President of acting outside the constitution, saying the crisis is not about the union but the President himself.

“That is part of the incompetence of the President that we talked about, to us it doesn’t make any sense.

“We don’t have any problem with the national union but the President. They are saying Baba (Oluomo) is not remorseful. How will he show remorse when the President is acting outside the constitution,” he said.