Abuja Transport Unions Petition FCT Minister Over Looming Crisis
BY AHMED TUKUR, ABUJA – Joint Local Transport Unions in Utako District of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are spoiling for a fight with over plans by a private organization to relocate them away from the City centre.
In their anger, the Unions have petitioned the FCT Minister, Mallam Mohammed Bello, requesting his intervention to prevent the brewing crisis between them and a private firm handling the planned relocation of the unions to Mpape tipper garage by a Ministerial committee.
Accordingly, the aggrieved unions namely: National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO); National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and HYAB and CRANE association in Utako district have appealed to the Minister to intervene and avoid the looming crisis that could threaten peace and tranquillity in the Nation’s capital.
A petition addressed to the two FCT Ministers and jointly signed by Mohammed Yunusa, Chairman of NARTO; Shuaib Mohammed, Chairman of Hyaib and Crain as well as Nasiru Ayuba – Chairman of NURTW all operating in the Utako unit noted that the Minister’s directives have been grossly flouted by officials handling the relocation exercise
The unions alleged that there is connivance between some government officials and a private firm to evict them from the place allocated them by the Ministerial Committee to checkmate illegal parks’ operations in Abuja.
“The associations, (NARTO, NURTW, and HYAB/CRANE) have been confronted and their activities obstructed in the new place (Mpape tipper garage) allocated to us by authorities (Ministerial committee) by a private firm claiming the land belongs to them”, the unions said
They further explained that as law abiding and registered organizations, their members have confidence in the FCT Minister as a father who will always abide by his instructions and directives.
The Unions also said; “In view of the above, we humbly pray for your kind intervention sir, to help save the looming crisis.”
Furthermore, they insist timely Ministerial intervention will save the situation and avert the tension already created due to ongoing plans to evict them from the allocated space.
“The private firm has an alliance with some government officials to cause crisis and blame the associations”, the Unions alleged in a statement.
“Sequel to the meeting and resolution of the ministerial committee to checkmate the illegal extension into villages, an agreement between the leadership of Department of Development Control (DDC) and that of NARTO, NURTW and HYAB and CRANE associations gave rise to the relocation of these associations to Mpape tipper garage”, the Unions noted.
