Ban on RTEAN: National secretariat pleads with Lagos governor

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3 years ago

The national secretariat of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to unseal its Lagos state office.

The RTEAN Lagos office was sealed off and the entire Lagos state branch of the association was suspended and a 35-member caretaker committee put in place on the directive of the Lagos State Government in the wake of crisis in two out of the over 320 chapels of the association in the state.

Many lives were lost and activities paralysed following the violence that erupted.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, Deputy National President of the association, Amb. Abubakar Muhammed Bishara, described the incident as regrettable, unfortunate but pleaded with the Lagos State Governor to reconsider its pronouncement.

He said: “To put the matter in its proper perspective, the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) is a trade union registered under the Trade Unions Act. Cap T 14 Laws of the Federation 2004, a Federal Enactment.

“The association also has its constitution which is recognized and approved by the Registrar of Trade Unions under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The operations of Trade Unions is entirely under the Trade Unions Act and the approved constitutions of the Trade Unions.

“None of the provisions of the Trade Unions Act confers or gives any power to any state Governor to suspend the activities of any Trade Union nor empowers the Governor of Lagos state or any other state to appoint a caretaker committee for a Trade Union as a branch of it. The action of the Governor is therefore ultra-vires and unconstitutional.

“We wish to further inform the members of the press that the constitution of RTEAN, which has been tested before the National Industrial Court, has made elaborate provision for chairmen of branches of the Association to contest elections in the National body either as president or any other office and if elected, could also hold the two positions without hindrance by any law as provision of the constitution of association.

“Therefore, the argument that the National President of RTEAN cannot hold the position of Lagos state branch chairman is without any foundation, rather it is provided for in the RTEAN constitution. Since the entire fracas was based on the issue covered by the RTEAN constitution one expects that aggrieved members should have been advised by the Governor to proceed to court to challenge the constitutional provision and not for the governor to delve into resolving constitutional issues embedded in the RTEAN constitution.

“It is not his responsibility. In any case, it is unfortunate that the very members who engineered and carried out the fracas are part of the people the Governor appointed as members of caretaker committee. It shows clearly that the Governor took sides with those contesting the issue of the president of RTEAN doubling as the chairman of Lagos branch of RTEAN.

“Furthermore, Lagos State has over 320 chapels. The fracas is alleged to have taken place in two of those chapels. The responsibility of the state Government is the maintenance of law and order, and these can be done by directing the police to arrest the miscreants who were involved in the fracas in the two chapels of the union.

“We, therefore, appeal to the Governor of Lagos State to rescind his decision to suspend the activities of Lagos Branch and allow the National body of the RTEAN to look into the matter in line with its constitution.

“We have observed that the Governor of Lagos state has gone a step further by drafting soldiers and other security agents to seal up the premises of the Lagos state branch of RTEAN when the fracas did not take place there.

“The said building is the property of the association and already the National Executive Council of the organisation has taken steps to resolve the crises. We equally appeal to the Government to withdraw the security personnel from the office. RTEAN is one of the most peaceful organisation among all the trade unions in the country and believes in the rule of law.

“We, therefore, humbly request the pleasure of the Lagos State Government to withdraw the security agents used in sealing off the property of the association,” the association demanded.

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