Ondo state government has suspended, with immediate effect, the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).
The government has also directed taxi drivers to revert to the old rate of N50 per drop.
The commercial drivers in the state had jerked up transport fare by 100 per cent about a month ago, citing the increase in daily ticket fees by the two unions as a reason.
The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on special duties, Dr Doyin Odebowale, who spoke at a briefing in Akure, said “no one is empowered to collect revenue from motorists on behalf of the state government henceforth.”
He added that the unions have not been remitting money to the government coffers and that government will not allow lawlessness from the unions.
In a related development, Governor Akeredolu has approved the appointment of Chief Olugbenga Ale as his Chief of Staff while Mr Olabode Richard has been appointed as Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor.
Chief Ale, who served in the same capacity in the first tenure of the governor, is a retired permanent secretary.
Richard, a broadcast journalist, served as Special Assistant (New Media) during the first tenure of the governor.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Research & Documentation, Kunle Adebayo, said the appointments take immediate effect.
