By Bello Hamza, Abuja
The National Leadership of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) have call on the executive Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwolu to withdraw his directive of suspending the activities of the association in the state because of a fracas in two of the over three hundred and twenty chapels spread across the state.
The Executive Governor of Lagos state has suspended the entire Lagos state branch of RTEAN and appointed a 35-member caretaker committee to run the affairs of the branch. It is also reported that the fracas that led to the decision was upon a disagreement among members of the two chapels over the fact that the National president of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) doubles as the chairman of the Lagos state branch of the association.
This was disclosed on a statement by the Deputy National President in charge of administration, Ambassador Muhammad Bishara made available to Journalists in Abuja, the statement further explains that, “The Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) is a trade union registered under the Trade Unions Act. Cap T 14 Laws of the Federation 2004, a Federal Enactment. The association also has its constitution which is recognized and approved by the Registrar of Trade Unions under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The operations of Trade Unions are entirely under the Trade Unions Act and the approved constitutions of the Trade Unions. None of the provisions of the Trade Unions Act confers or gives any power to any state Governor to suspend the activities of any Trade Union nor empowers the Governor of Lagos state or any other state to appoint a caretaker committee for a Trade Union as a branch of it”
The statement therefore urges the Governor of Lagos state to rescind his decision to suspend the activities of Lagos Branch and allow the National body of the RTEAN to look into the matter in line with its constitution.
