Ondo Govt Suspends NURTW, RTEAN

Ondo State Government, on Monday, suspended the state branch of
the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road
Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, (RTEAN).

The suspension of the two unions was announced by the Senior
Special Assistant to the governor on Special Duties and Strategy,
Dr Doyin Odebowale, who said the suspension is with immediate
effect.

Odebowale attributed the suspension of the unions to the recent
crisis within the two drivers’ unions in the state over leadership
tussles.

He directed the leadership of the NURTW and RTEAN to vacate
motor parks across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state while
warning them against collecting money from taxi drivers and other
motorists.

Odebowale also directed commercial Taxi drivers to revert to the
old price of N50 per drop and directed the drivers to obtain the
new tickets directly from the state government officials.

The SSA said the state government frowned over any attempt to
make life difficult for the masses, saying the state government
would not allow or encourage additional burden on the people of the
state.

He disclosed that security agencies in the state had been
notified to effect timely arrest and prosecution of any
defaulters.

It will be recalled that the two drivers union have been on
collision course over the hike in intracity transport fares in
Akure metropolis and other parts of the state.

While some members of the NURTW in the state have increased the
taxi fare from N50 to N100 following the upward review of the daily
ticket by the union in the state, the leadership of RTEAN
dissociated from the hike, rejecting the new transport fare and
vowed to maintain the old rate of N50 per drop.

It was gathered that the hike in the fare was not unconnected
with the increase in the amount of ticket by the NURTW leaders from
N250 to N700.

However, the state government has since distanced itself from
the hike in the daily ticket of the taxi drivers from N250 to
N700.

Ondo State Government, on Monday, suspended the state branch of
the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road
Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, (RTEAN).

The suspension of the two unions was announced by the Senior
Special Assistant to the governor on Special Duties and Strategy,
Dr Doyin Odebowale, who said the suspension is with immediate
effect.

Odebowale attributed the suspension of the unions to the recent
crisis within the two drivers’ unions in the state over leadership
tussles.

He directed the leadership of the NURTW and RTEAN to vacate
motor parks across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state while
warning them against collecting money from taxi drivers and other
motorists.

Odebowale also directed commercial Taxi drivers to revert to the
old price of N50 per drop and directed the drivers to obtain the
new tickets directly from the state government officials.

The SSA said the state government frowned over any attempt to
make life difficult for the masses, saying the state government
would not allow or encourage additional burden on the people of the
state.

He disclosed that security agencies in the state had been
notified to effect timely arrest and prosecution of any
defaulters.

It will be recalled that the two drivers union have been on
collision course over the hike in intracity transport fares in
Akure metropolis and other parts of the state.

While some members of the NURTW in the state have increased the
taxi fare from N50 to N100 following the upward review of the daily
ticket by the union in the state, the leadership of RTEAN
dissociated from the hike, rejecting the new transport fare and
vowed to maintain the old rate of N50 per drop.

It was gathered that the hike in the fare was not unconnected
with the increase in the amount of ticket by the NURTW leaders from
N250 to N700.

However, the state government has since distanced itself from
the hike in the daily ticket of the taxi drivers from N250 to
N700.