The President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa has called on leaders, chairmen and members of the union in the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory to stay away from the Zonal and National Delegates Conference slated for October 5, 2023 and Quadrennial Delegates Conference Delegates on October 25, 2023.
The conferences are organised by a group led by Alhaji Tajudeen Badru Agbede.
Baruwa stated this in a statement issued by the General Secretary of the union, Comrade Anthony Asogwa Chukwudi (JP) at the weekend in Abuja.
The statement described the proposed conferences as illegal and unconstitutional. It urged genuine members of the union to stay away and not to fall for the antics of meddlesome interlopers who are out to create confusion in the union.
Baruwa reminded the group that there was no vacancy at the National Headquarters of the union and therefore urged its members to retrace their steps.
The statement read, "The attention of the leadership of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has been drawn to a purported illegal meeting held by illegitimate and so-called National Caretaker Committee on 26th September 2023 wherein they purportedly passed a resolution to organise an illegal Special zonal delegates conference on October 5th 2023 and national quadrennial delegates conference on 25th October 2023.
“The President is hereby calling on all genuine and well-meaning members and leaders of the union across 36 states Councils and FCT to stay clear from the purported zonal and national delegates conference because both the organisers of the conference and conference are not recognised by union’s constitution as it is clear violation of Article 9, Section 13,14, 15 & 16.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the constitution of the union provides that election of President and other National officers (members of National Administrative Council) must take place three months before the expiration of tenure.
"The Constitution of the Union equally provides that the National Quadrennial Delegates Conference is to hold in the month of August, not October or any other month.
"In view of the above, the President hereby reiterates that the NURTW has held its Zonal Delegates Conference across the six zonal councils of the union on 24th May 2023 where the incumbent President, Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa emerged as President for a second term in office."
The statement added that Baruwa and other national officers who emerged from various zones were duly inaugurated and sworn in on August 23, 2023 at Ta'aL Hotels Lafia Nasarawa State during the Quadrennial National Delegate Conference.
Also reacting to the statement issued by one Kayode Agbeyangi, who has claimed to be the General Secretary of the union, asking the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to stop meddling in the affairs of the union, Baruwa said his utterance is a clear display of stark ignorance of the role of the NLC in matters affecting its affiliates.
The statement also said, "His call was not only misplaced but also a clear demonstration of lack of knowledge of the working of the trade union movement in Nigeria," the statement added.
The statement urged the public and the leadership of NLC to ignore the publication, noting that Kayode has no knowledge about the workings of the union and its operation.
"For the records, it is instructive to go down memory lane vis-a-vis the positive contributions of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the internal affairs of the National Union of Road Transport Workers over the years.
"In 1999, the former President of the Union, Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin, who is the brains behind the current impasse in the Union in his distinguished characteristic nature of trouble fomenting instigated serious crisis before, during and after the Union's Quadrennial National Delegates Conference held in Enugu. In fact, that Conference would have been the bloodiest Conference in the history of the Union but for divine intervention.
"At the above conference, Alh. Yasin contested for the Presidency of the Union with the late Alh. Gidado Hamman and there was a tie after ballot counting. Supplementary election was fixed for the next day, but lo and behold Alh. Yasin refused to show up, hence, the late Gidado Hamman was declared the winner. Mr. Yasin went and formed a parallel administration.”
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