Press Releases

Fashola Urges Restraint As Lagos NURTW Protests Imposition Of Chairman

Aug 31, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Monday urged restraint among members of the State Chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) saying democracy will be meaningless without peace.

Hundreds of members of the State Chapter of the NURTW stormed the Lagos House Ikeja mid-morning Monday to protest the imposition of a chairman on the union by the Federal Minister of Labour and Productivity and to hand over their protest letter to Governor Fashola for onward presentation to President Umar Yar’Adua.

Receiving them at the open grounds of the State House, Governor Fashola said transportation is not a sector of the economy to be toyed with under any guise because of its importance to the survival of the people.

He told the union members, “Transportation is the bedrock of modern civilization. Not only do people earn a living from it like you but also people depend on it to earn their living, to get from one part of the city to the other, from one state to another. It is critical to the survival of our State and our nation”.

Thanking the members for conducting themselves peacefully “in spite of seemingly provoked manner that you feel that the event you have restated here has come at you”, Governor Fashola declared, “It is important to say that I will go through the letter you have delivered here today and I assure you that I will make representation on your behalf to Mr. President before the end of business today”.

He noted that there are clearly legal regimes that control the appointment and regulations of the leadership of the unions at the various states and Local Governments as well as the Federal levels, adding, “We will look at these laws and make appropriate recommendations to the Federal Government”.

“I urge you again with all the emphasis I can muster to remain peaceful in spite of any provocation you may come across”, the Governor pleaded pointing out that it is the only way to bring effective resolution to the matter.

He continued, “Democracy will be meaningless in your life and the life of your children and your dependants if there is no peace. We need peace and with peace we will find solutions and continue to provide the best service that the Government can provide within the constraints and challenges with which we have to operate”.

Earlier, in his submission while presenting the letter to the Governor, the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Michael Alogba, said the protest was organized to express their total rejection of the imposed leader on the union pointing out that the imposition was aimed at destabilizing the union.

Alogba noted that Lagos State is a peaceful State and that the union has always operated peacefully but warned that the union would not tolerate a situation whereby a Minister of Labour would come from Abuja to impose a leader on the union.

“We have rules and procedures for conducting our elections to choose our leaders. Meanwhile Alhaji Rafiu Olorunwa and his executive remain our leaders and they remain on ground”, he said

Also present at the occasion were a member of the National Executive of the NLC Mr. Denja Yakub, representing the NLC President, members of the State Executive Council, members and the leadership of the Lagos NLC, members of the Human rights organizations as well as other top functionaries of the State Governmen.