- Safiu Kehinde
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has banned the operations of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), ANNEWAT, and the Drivers on Wheel group within the state.
This was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor.
According to the statement, the governor prohibited the unions from collecting any kind of dues, levies, taxes, or fees from motorists, drivers, traders, or any members of the public within the State.
Okpebholo also banned the operations of Atalakpa Recovery Concept Ltd, a private company owned by the State Youth Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tony Kabaka.
The governor’s decision, according to the statement, came following reports about the extortion and return of illegal revenue collection by some unions and organizations operating under different pretenses throughout the state.
Okpebholo labelled the acts as an economic sabotage, social oppression, and a direct affront to law and order
He urged all motorists and commercial drivers to desist from paying any form of levy to the banned transport unions.
Okpebholo directed that any case of the illegal activities by the banned unions should be reported to the Edo State Special Taskforce.
The statement reads in part: “Credible reports reaching the people-loving Governor, indicate that the firm and its workers have become complicit in widespread extortion and abuse of mandate, thereby betraying the trust reposed in them by the State.
“The Government considers these actions as acts of economic sabotage, social oppression, and a direct affront to law and order. The era of using unions as fronts to harass, intimidate, or extort drivers and road users in the name of revenue collection is over.
“All activities of the aforementioned unions are suspended indefinitely.
“No individual or group under any of these unions is permitted to collect any form of payment from motorists or road users.
“All motorists, drivers, and road users are strongly advised not to pay any cash or comply with any form of illegal levy imposed by these banned entities.
“Reports of any such illegal activity should be forwarded immediately to the Edo State Special Taskforce, coordinated by SP Michael Anetor via 08038157126.
“The Commissioner of Police and all relevant security agencies have been duly notified and directed to arrest and prosecute any individual or group found violating this directive.”