The Lagos state government on Monday invited Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo, leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state and representative of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) for a reconciliatory meeting.
The meeting, presided by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Oluwatoyin Fayinka, was aim at reaching an agreement by both union leaders over park operations in the State in an attempt to forestall a reoccurrence of an incident that happened in Obalende.
There was chaos in Obalende area of Lagos on February 11, when members of both unions engaged in a fight over control of the park.
In his opening remarks at the meeting held in Ikeja, the Special Adviser noted that the development was worrisome due to the fact that both parties had cohabited peacefully for a long time.
Fayinka, therefore, implored the two parties to settle the dispute amicably, urging them to make necessary concessions and agree to enhance the peaceful resolution of their differences and ensure that peace reigns across parks in Lagos State.
Responding, the Lagos State Branch Treasurer for NURTW, Mr Mustapha Adekunle (Sego), stated that the disagreement was about the control of park unit operations as agreed by both parties, explaining that the operation of tricycles in one of the Units under the control of RTEAN was disrupted by NURTW for their minibus operations.
Corroborating the Treasurer’s claim, MC Oluomo added that the boundary operations crisis that ensued between the Unions could have been averted, just as so many other issues that could have degenerated into crisis had been amicably settled in the past.
He, therefore, reiterated the need for the peaceful coexistence of both parties in Lagos State, suggesting a periodic meeting of stakeholders of NURTW and RTEAN to resolve areas of disagreements before it degenerates in order for peace to reign.
On his part, the State Secretary of RTEAN, Mr. Amusan Olalekan, maintained that the clash was avoidable going by the agreement of both Unions in maintaining the peace between them, noting that the crisis would have been averted if Union Leaders of both parties had taken proactive measures at resolving issues immediately they ensued.
The Vice-Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of RTEAN, Chief Gbenga Elesho, however, informed that the taking over of some parks, which were initially under the control of his union, by NURTW was one of the reasons for the clash.
At the end of the lengthy deliberations, both parties agreed that pending the return of Tricycle operations by NURTW at Obalende, RTEAN will continue with the operation of their minibuses with welfare fees paid to NURTW.
