By JOAN NWAGWU

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has urged the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) not to meddle in its internal crises.

Mr Kayode Agbeyangi, Acting General Secretary of the union made the call in his address at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

Agbeyangi alleged that the recent outbreak of violence at the National Secretariat of the union was due to the interference of the NLC for selfish reasons.

According to him, like the proverbial sympathiser who cried more than the bereaved, NLC has gone overboard in expressing their interest in our internal affairs.

“The NLC took a one-sided decision that further threatened our effort to unite all interests and move the union forward.

“It is very sad and unfortunate that the umbrella body of workers that is expected to protect the welfare and right of all workers has turned itself into a tool used for outbreak of violence and favoritism.

“Also the flagrant abuse of constitutional provisions of the union by attempting to impose the erstwhile President Alh. Tajudeen Baruwa on the union whose tenure expired on Aug. 28,”he said.

He however, called on the Joe Ajaero-led NLC to discard their bias and ethnic sentiments towards the former General Secretary who is their kinsman.

He also urged him to refrain from further blackmailing the union in their desperate bid to authenticate illegality.

“What is expected of the congress at this time is to support without rancor, the ongoing process of organisng a statutory National Delegates’ Conference of the NURTW as stipulated by the union Constitution,” he said.

Agbeyangi also said the NLC and other relevant agencies have been duly intimated through official correspondences about the various resolutions taken at various organs of the union.

He said the union expects the NLC to respect the determination of the NURTW to ensure the emergence of a democratically elected National leadership for NURTW at the forthcoming Quadrennial Delegates Conference.

“We believe the congress will be honourable enough to support the peaceful process and to align with established legal framework and international standards governing industrial relations.

“That is which the congress claims to uphold, towards ensuring industrial harmony in the union and Nigeria at large.

“In the interest of peace, justice and fair play, the NLC should give chance to the Board of Trustee of the union to resolve the union crises internally as enshrined in its constitution,” he said.

The acting general secretary therefore said that strategic process have being put place to achieve peace in the union.

He also said due to the inability of the past administration to convene a Zonal Delegates Conference, a National Caretaker Committee.

Agbeyangi said the Caretaker Committee would prepare ground to conduct a credible conference across the zones of the Union on Oct. 5.

He also noted that the inauguration of the National officers would be held on Oct.25.

He however commended the former President of the union, Alh. Najeem Yasin, towards ensuring that the union crises were amicably resolved

In a swift reaction, Mr Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC said the congress will not join issues with just any group outside the legitimate fold the NLC.

“We have alerted the whole world that our leadership in NURTW has been cloned.

“The cloned leadership is also threatening to attack the leadership of NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

“I don’t want us to join issues with unknown quantity,” he said. (NAN)

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