Leadership crisis: NURTW asks acting IGP to withdraw officers from its HQ

Tajudeen Baruwa, national president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has asked President Bola Tinubu to order Olukayode Egbetokun, acting inspector-general of police (IGP), not to interfere with the union’s affairs.

The police in the federal capital territory (FCT) said they deployed a contingent of officers to the NURTW to avert a breakdown of law and order.

“It is essential to clarify that the deployment of police personnel to the headquarters of the union is solely to avert impending bloodletting and clash between two factional groups led by Tajudeen Baruwa and Basiru Agbede,” Josephine Adeh, FCT police spokesperson, said in a statement.

Agbede, vice-president of the NURTW, was elected president of the union at an emergency meeting on Sunday.

However, another meeting was held in Nasarawa where Baruwa was re-elected as president.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Baruwa expressed dismay at the “large contingent” of police officers deployed to its national headquarters.

He said the alleged interference of the police in the affairs of the union is a violation of democratic principles.

“This alarming act was carried out with the intent to undermine the democratically elected leadership of our Union, led by Comrade Baruwa, and install a puppet leadership from Lagos state,” Baruwa said.

“We must emphasize that the interference of the government in the internal affairs of a Trade Union, as witnessed today, is a blatant violation of democratic principles.

“It not only contradicts the established legal processes for addressing industrial disputes in Nigeria, as enshrined in our Constitution but also portrays the Nigeria Police Force, under the IGP’s leadership, as a violator of the very laws it is mandated to uphold.

“We remind all stakeholders that Nigeria remains a democracy, and it is imperative for the government to uphold democratic principles in all its dealings.

“Attempting to overthrow a democratically elected leadership within NURTW or any trade union for that matter not only contradicts international labor conventions but also undermines the very essence of democracy in Nigeria, which the government is duty-bound to protect.

“The NURTW calls all its state chapters to begin mobilization across the nation to resist this attempt at taking over our union.

“Our union is not a war booty that can be handed over as a trophy to anyone as a compensation for whatever reasons.

“We urge the IGP to immediately withdraw the police operatives and associated hoodlums from our national secretariat.”

Baruwa said the police must not interfere in the activities of the union in order to avoid “jeopardising the rights and privileges of Nigerian workers and citizens”.