National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has advised the alleged elected president of the Union and his supporters to comply with the directives of the Appeal Court.
The acting president of the Union, Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore, gave the advice during an emergency meeting attended by all zonal chairmen and secretaries, state chairmen and secretaries, treasurers, and members of the National Administrative Councils.
Delivering a powerful message to all members, the acting president, Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore, stated that the objective of the emergency meeting was to update members on the current events related to the controversy surrounding the union.
He strongly denounced the suggestions spreading on social media implying that Ibikunle Baruwa and his associates hold the authority of the union while the case is still under consideration in the Court of Appeal, as clarified by the acting president of the union, Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore.
“He said Alhaji Baruwa is probably holding unto the verdicts of a National Industrial court which conceded victory to him, against our simple application for fair hearing.
” However, there is a pending appeal against that judgment, which was immediately appealed. Our appeal has been properly lodged at the Court of Appeal and assigned the appeal number CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024. The record of proceedings from the National Industrial Court, where the case was transferred and parties were directed to submit to the appellate jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal, has been duly communicated to all parties”.
He further added that as it stands, the recognized leadership of the NURTW remains under the stewardship of Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore in an acting capacity, alongside other elected officers.
This information was communicated to the Ministry of Labour and other agencies through the aforementioned letter of introduction.
Alhaji Issa Ore said, “In view of this, the Union finds it necessary to reiterate that the Federal Ministry of Labour, which supervises the NURTW, did not and does not recognize the election allegedly conducted by Alhaji Ibikunle Baruwa. The ministry, after due intervention and mediation, directed the Union, via a letter dated 20th October 2023, to conduct another election, which was duly held on 25th October 2023. This resulted in the election and swearing-in of certain National officers”.
The acting president also mentioned that the National Leadership properly introduced the newly elected officers of the Union to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment through a letter of introduction dated October 31, 2023. The ministry responded accordingly to the letter.
Addressing the gathering earlier, Alhaji Najeem Yasin, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Union, advised everyone to remain united to prevent the destruction of the institution that has been established for years, for selfish reasons.
Alhaji Najeem called on Alhaji Baruwa and his accomplices to return to the South West and ensure their full support for him to be able to claim what he has been claiming.
He assured everyone that very soon, all these problems would be resolved for the Union to prosper and continue as one indivisible entity as it was.
On their part, state chairmen and other officials are fully in support of the leadership’s position.
Alhaji Aliyu Turak, the Zaria chairman in Kaduna State, said the decision is in line with the law, stating that once an issue is before the court, no one should take any action until the appeal court decides.
Bashir M
