Drivers Decry NURTW, Police Harrassment

The Enugu state Coordinator, Self Employed Commercial Drivers Association, Abuja (SECDAA), Enugu state chapter, Mr. Julius Udealor, has expressed deep concern over alleged use of Police by officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), to harass and intimidate members of the association in the state.

Udealor who made his feelings known in a chat with newsmen in Enugu at the end of a peaceful demonstration embarked upon by members of the body to Enugu North and Enugu South local government Areas, therefore appealed to the commissioner of police in the state to call his men to order to avoid further intimidation and harassment of their members carrying out their legitimate day-to- day activities.

The SECDAA state coordinator also accused officials of NURTW of imposing what he described as “illegal dues” on members of the association, adding that SECDAA is quite different from NURTW, having registered under Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), in 2005 at Abuja.

The Nigerian constitution, he went on, allows all citizens freedom of association, reasoning that it is their constitution right to belong to any association or organisation of their choice without any form of intimidation or harassment from any individual or group of persons.

His words: “Official of NURTW have no right to compel our members to be their members because Trade Union Act excludes us from belonging to NURTW in whatever form”, he further stressed.

Continuing, Mr. Udealor said, “On several occasions and at different times members of NURTW have beaten up our members, seized their tyres, seats and other items, all in an attempt to force them pay illegal dues imposed on all categories of commercial drivers in the state “.

However, Mr. Udealor appealed to all members of SECDAA in the state to continue to be law abiding as usual and not to take laws into their hands no matter the level of provocation as no stone would be left unturned to ensure their independence at all times.

Addressing officials of SECDAA later at the Enugu South Local Government Council Headquarters, the deputy chairman, Hon. Ken Nyammah, on behalf of the chairman of the council, commended members of SECDAA for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner.

He, assured them that efforts would be made to broker peace between them and members of the NURTW in the state, adding that Enugu is a peaceful state as government would not tolerate any form of crisis.

In the same vein, the officials of the Enugu North Local Government led by secretary of the council, Hon. Dubem Anibueze, while receiving the aggrieved SECDAA members on behalf of the council chairman who was not available in office at the time the protesters arrived the council Headquarters, also spoke in like manner, promising that frantic efforts would be made to ensure peace among the two warring organisations.