The National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has challenged the Osun State Government’s decision to suspend the union’s activities, insisting that Governor Ademola Adeleke lacks the constitutional authority to halt the operations of the union.
Speaking through the union’s Deputy National President, Aliyu Ore, during the inauguration of a seven-member caretaker committee in Abuja, MC Oluomo argued that the NURTW is a legally recognised national body established by an Act of law and is not under the control of any state government. He maintained that previous court rulings had consistently upheld the union’s position in similar disputes across different states.
The controversy follows the Osun State Government’s suspension of NURTW activities in motor parks after violent clashes between rival factions of the union in Osogbo. The state also directed security agencies to halt the collection of levies in motor parks and arrest anyone parading as a union official while the suspension remains in force.
MC Oluomo said the national leadership established the caretaker committee to provide leadership for the Osun chapter pending the resolution of the internal crisis, especially with the state’s governorship election approaching. He added that the union’s existing memorandum of understanding with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) made it necessary to ensure a functional leadership structure in the state.
However, the Osun State Government rejected the caretaker committee, insisting that Governor Adeleke never dissolved the state’s recognised NURTW leadership but merely suspended the union’s activities in public motor parks to restore peace and protect lives. The government also maintained that the existing state executives remain the legitimate leadership of the union and that the suspension will remain in effect until security concerns are addressed.
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