THE Group of Elders of the Lagos State Council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has petitioned the state government, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone II and the state Commissioner of Police over what it called an attempt by the union’s president, Tajudeen Baruwa, to cause chaos in the state.
The petition, signed by the group’s chairman, Mr Samuel Jonah; secretary, Mr Stephen Falusi and three others – Alhaji Alao Adewuyi, Alhaji Alamu Otegbeye and Mr Bola Lemboye – was delivered to the governor on Monday.
The group accused Baruwa of running the union like his personal property without recourse to the constitution.
It wondered why Baruwa would challenge the authority of the state government by appointing another caretaker committee to run the affairs of the union when the government had already appointed a park management committee for peace to reign in the state.
The group said, “We are aware that all motor parks in the state belong to the government and that NURTW does not have any private motor park of its own. Where will his own committee work without clashing with the government-appointed park management committee?
“Your Excellency, it will be recalled that Baruwa was nominated from the Ogun State council of our union three years ago and six months after he assumed office, he created chaos in the union in his home state, leading to the government taking over the parks up to today. He did not appoint another committee there, as of this time of writing this report.
“Similar situation occurred in Oyo State, he (Baruwa) did not appoint any caretaker committee to counter the government-appointed park management committee till date.
“In Ondo State where the government just took over the running of the motor parks, he did not appoint any committee there to run side by side with the government’s committee. The big question is: why Lagos State now?
“It is sad to note that the president (Baruwa) inherited six functioning state councils of the union in the South-West, otherwise known as Zone II, his home base, but because of his selfish interest, four out of these six states were already taken over by their state governments, including Lagos State.
“Your Excellency sir, their evil plan to breach the peace in Lagos State should not be allowed to materialise.”
According to the union leaders, Baruwa has been warned several times to run the union in line with the dictate of the union’s constitution but he has refused to do so.
