Trouble, as MC Oluomo heads new parks’ management committee of Lagos

Few hours after the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) dissolved its Lagos chapter executive council and sacking the suspended chairman, Alh Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly called MC Oluomo, the State Government, Thursday, constituted a 25-man committee ‘to oversee the affairs of all motor parks and garages.’

The committee, incidentally, is chaired by the MC Oluomo, with the former state commissioner of police, AIG Hakeem Odumosu (rtd) to serve as its ‘Government Liaison Officer.’

The State Government had, on Thursday, March 10, suspended activities of the NURTW in all parks and garages, following tension sparked by some events in the union over a leadership tussle among high ranking members of the union, essentially arising from control of the Consolidated Informal Sector Transport Levy Ticket recently announced by the state government on commercial transporters.

Other state in the South West region, including Oyo and Ondo states have also followed suit in suspending operations of the transport union, citing unrest caused by the body.

It would be recalled that only on Wednesday, the National Administrative Council (NAC) of the NURTW finally sacked the suspended Akinsanya as the Lagos State Chairman of the transport union.

NAC also dissolved the Lagos State council of the union with immediate effect.

A statement signed by the NURTW President, Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, and general secretary, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Ya’u, on Wednesday, said the decision of the council was in line with the provision of its constitution.

According to the national body, the decision was taken following Oluomo’s failure to show remorse over alleged acts of insubordination leveled against him by the national body.

“In view of the fact that nature abhors vacuum, the state secretary of the union, Comrade Seyi Bankole, is hereby directed to take over the running of the affairs of Lagos State council pending the constitution of a caretaker committee after consultation with relevant authorities.

“The National Administrative Council, during its meeting of March 15, 2022, graciously passed a resolution to grant pardon to the suspended state chairman if he showed remorse and tender unreserved apology to the union. However, up till this moment the suspended chairman has bluntly refused to do so, hence, the decision to take action against the Lagos State Administrative Council by dissolving same.”

It would also be recalled that Akinsanya had immediately after his earlier suspension, pulled out his state chapter from the national body affiliation.

Meanwhile, the Lagos Government in setting up a committee to oversee the affairs of all motor parks and garages in the state, said it was ‘in fulfillment of the Government’s promise to ensure that events in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) are not allowed to threaten law and order.’

A statement by the state commissioner for Information & Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the government is exercising its constitutional powers ‘to ensure that no vacuum.’

“The Government has, therefore, exercised its constitutional powers to ensure that no vacuum, which can disrupt the peace of our dear State, is allowed to exist in the parks.

“This is a duty we owe all Lagosians and visitors,” the commissioner said, adding further that the committee members were selected ‘following consultations with stakeholders in the sector.’

Members of the committee include:

 1. Mr. Hakeem Odumosu (AIG Rtd) – Government Liaison Officer

2. Alh Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya – Chairman

3. Alh Sulyman B. Ojora – (Deputy Chairman)

4. Dr. Taiwo Olufemi Salaam (Secretary)

5. Comrade Olayiwola Lemboye

6. Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle

7. Alhaji Ganiyu Shittu

8. Alhaji Mukaila Runsewe

9. Alhaji Sulyman Yusuf

10. Alhaji Mufutau Mutiu

11. Alhaji Yinka Hassan

12. Alhaji Sunday Ogunleye

13. Alhaji Moshood Omojowa

14. Alhaji Ismaila Aigoro

15. Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf. O

16. Alhaji Akeem Tijani

17. Mrs. Omolabake Adelakun

18. Comrade Kazeem Hassan

19. Alhaji Wasiu Amole

20. Alhaji Ganiyu Ayinde

21. Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye

22. John Victor Owolabi

23. Saburi Salami

24. Ibrahim Onitiju

25. Odusanya Gbenga

According to the commissioner, members of the newly-constituted committee ‘are to report to the Ministry of Transportation, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.’