Minister of Labour and Employment Simon Lalong has directed the suspension of all activities by the factions of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) pending an amicable resolution of the dispute.
The minister’s directive is 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 were notified about the development.
“In view of the above, the Honourable Minister has directed the suspension of all further activities by the factions of the NURTW pending an amicable resolution of the dispute,” the letter read.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all activities in furtherance of the election of new executives and related to the day-to-day operations of the union are suspended henceforth.”
The letter 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 rocking the NURTW, which 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.