Police Invasion: NURTW Issues Fresh Warning, Sends Message To IGP

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has issued a fresh warning concerning the invasion of its National Secretariat by security operatives.

The transport workers said they would be compelled to respond to the security invasion if nothing is done.

Speaking to pressmen on Tuesday, Union’s President, Tajudeen Baruwa, described the invasion as an “egregious and undemocratic” action.

Baruwa said the interference of government in the internal affairs of a trade union violates democratic principles and contradicts established legal processes for addressing industrial disputes as enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution.

The union has also ordered its state chapters to mobilize and resist any attempts to take over their union, Naija News learned.

The reaction was in response to an alleged invasion of its National Secretariat by security operatives.

The  NURTW boss, however, warned that if what he described as unlawful actions persist, they may be compelled to defend the rights and interests of their members and the Nigerian people as a whole.

He said, “This alarming act was carried out with the intent to undermine the democratically elected leadership of our Union, led by Comrade Baruwa, and install a puppet leadership from Lagos State. The NURTW calls all its state chapters to begin mobilization nationwide to resist this attempt at taking over our Union.

“We are not a war booty that can be handed over as a trophy to anyone as compensation for whatever reasons.”

Baruwa called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to withdraw the police operatives from the National Headquarters of NURTW.

He also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to immediately protect their Union from hijacking forces.

Giving an account of how the alleged invasion happened, the Chairman of the NURTW Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, Alhaji Ibrahim Sanda Kuje, gave a detailed account of the invasion at a separate briefing.

He narrated that the incident occurred on Monday, at about 7:00 a.m., when a group claiming to be Park Management Committee from Lagos, Ogun, and Osun mobilized thugs and hoodlums to attack their National Secretariat.

“They attacked and chased away all the National officers, including the National President, while the police watched them. This is an illegality that is being influenced by some top government officials using security agents to back these disgruntled elements who have renounced their membership from the Union. We appeal to our members across the states to remain calm but be on standby,” Kuje said.

He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently to avoid any breakdown of law and order in the Federal Capital Territory.