The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, has ordered the suspension of all activities by the factions of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) until an amicable resolution of the dispute is reached.
According to Lagos Reporters, the directive was contained in a letter signed by Mr. Emmanuel Igbinosun, Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations on behalf of the minister, and addressed to the National President of the union.
The letter noted that both factions in the dispute had been informed about the development and stated that all activities relating to the election of new executives and the day-to-day operations of the union would be suspended henceforth.
The letter also added that further directives would be communicated to the union on or before Friday, October 13, 2023.
The minister’s directive comes amidst a leadership crisis in the NURTW that has led to clashes between the two factions. Recently, a faction of the union led by Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede forcefully took over the National Secretariat of the union, located at Garki 2, and dislodged the incumbent President, Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa.
Baruwa and three other national officers of the union were recently detained in Abuja by the police over the leadership crisis rocking the union.