LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REFUNDS 145 FORMER SUBSCRIBERS OF EGAN HOUSING ESTATE
admin - Alleges subversion of governor’s directive on operation
By Oyebola Owolabi
The Motorcycle Operators’ Union of Nigeria (MOUN) in Lagos State has called for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s intervention to ensure the body is granted official recognition as the sole motorcycles’ operators union in the state.
It also wants the governor to ensure that ‘MOUN is accorded all the rights and privileges of a duly registered trade union in Nigeria’.
Lawyer to the union, Jiti Ogunye, in company of the Chairman, Taiwo Adetunji, made this call yesterday at a news conference at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat, Ikeja. It was attended by the union’s leadership and members.
Ogunye alleged that some officials of the Ministry of Transportation were subverting the governor’s directive on the union’s recognition and certification for operation. He called for the immediate remedy of the situation to avoid unnecessary chaos and disorder in the state.
The legal counsel also noted that letters were written by MOUN to the state Attorney -General and Ministry of Transportation, seeking for recognition, ‘but, sadly, some officials did not only refuse to give Lagos MOUN and the National Leadership, represented by the Secretary General of MOUN, a certificate or communication of recognition, but also repeatedly avoided us, all claiming that they had not been directed’.
He added: “Rather, the officials subverted Governor Sanwo-Olu’s directive, claiming dubiously that there is an intra-union dispute in MOUN.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no intra-union dispute in MOUN on the issue of the recognition accorded MOUN in Lagos State. MOUN has a branch and an executive council in Lagos State, which was constituted in 2023.
“This Lagos State branch has been operating in readiness for the recognition and certification for operation, which the governor has graciously granted. On May 1, 2024, as a part of its activities for the Workers’ Day Celebration, MOUN, as an accredited affiliate of NLC, participated in the parade and march-past. The governor also acknowledged MOUN on that occasion.”
Ogunye also said the union, on October 9, petitioned Governor Sanwo-Olu, seeking redress through ‘a withdrawal and rescission of the letter of recognition and other letters purportedly issued to MOUN, but handed over to third parties who are not members of MOUN, to empower them to forcibly take over MOUN in Lagos State’.
On the union’s appeals to the governor, Ogunye said: “The governor should direct the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to convene a stakeholders meeting with concerned parties – Lagos MOUN, the two pre-existing motorcycle riders’ associations (MOALS and NNAMORAL); NURTW and RTEAN, to which MOALS and NNAMORAL are affiliated; as well as the Ministry of Transportation, where transitional issues, accommodation, protection of interests and integration of the departing and soon-to-become defunct management platforms of MOALS and NNAMORAL would be discussed and resolved, to pave way for a seamless commencement of full operation by MOUN in Lagos State.
“Investigation of our complaint of misconduct leveled against the ministry officials to initiate administrative and executive disciplinary proceedings against them under the Public Service Rules, and Code of Conduct for political office holders, as may be deemed appropriate.
“Mandating the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to implement, supervise and coordinate these remedies being sought, to promote trust and confidence in the remediation process.
“It is our fervent hope that Governor Sanwo-Olu will grant our union the justice we deserve.”
Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, were yet to respond to inquiries as at last night.
