Osun: NURTW defies governor's suspension order, insists on national authority

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has openly challenged Governor Ademola Adeleke's order suspending its activities in Osun State. The union asserts that state governors lack the authority to halt the operations of a nationally recognized transport union.

This dispute escalated following a violent struggle for control of motor parks in Osogbo, creating a standoff between the Osun State Government and the NURTW's national leadership. The union's Deputy National President, Aliyu Issa Ore, representing National President Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo), stated that the national body could not leave the state chapter without leadership, especially with the governorship election approaching and the union's role under an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

"Today, we heard that the state governor in Osun suspended the activities of our union, which they don’t have that power," Akinsanya declared. "Not any single state governor has power to suspend the activities of the union, because we are not under any state. There is an Act that established the NURTW."

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Today, we heard that the state governor in Osun suspended the activities of our union, which they don’t have that power. Not any single state governor has power to suspend the activities of the union, because we are not under any state. There is an Act that established the NURTW.

Ore explained the inauguration of a seven-member caretaker committee for Osun in Abuja was necessary due to the union's upcoming responsibilities. "We have MoU with INEC. I was in INEC yesterday based on the directive of the president of our union. In view of this, we have to inaugurate the caretaker members, who are to mount the leadership of the NURTW pending the time we resolve all issues attached to Osun," Ore said, before unveiling Alhaji Kazeem Oyewale as the new chairman.

The Osun State Government had previously ordered the immediate suspension of all NURTW activities in motor parks due to heightened security concerns stemming from violent clashes between rival factions in Osogbo. The government also suspended the collection of levies and directed security agencies to arrest anyone acting as a union official.

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We have MoU with INEC. I was in INEC yesterday based on the directive of the president of our union. In view of this, we have to inaugurate the caretaker members, who are to mount the leadership of the NURTW pending the time we resolve all issues attached to Osun.