The Taraba State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, has expressed concerns over the ongoing crisis in the national body of the association.
Briefing journalists on Sunday in Jalingo, the Chairman of the NURTW in Taraba, Alhaji Ahmadu Musa Gauri, said members of the union in the state have unanimously resolved to throw their weight behind the newly elected National President, Professor Ibikunle Baruwa.
Gauri urged the parties involved in the ongoing crisis to sheath their swords in the interest of the union.
He said,”An illegal occupying force has forcefully broken into the National Secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) claiming to be the new leadership contrary to the known leadership that was constitutionally inaugurated earlier.
“To the best of our knowledge, the zonal delegates conference of our great union had constitutionally taken place in Bauchi on May 24, 2023 where we elected our National Treasurer, Vice Chairman, and a Trustee as provided by our Constitution.”
He noted that the new leadership of the union, under Professor Baruwa, “was subsequently inaugurated during the National Delegates Conference that took place in Lafiya, Nassarawa State in August this year”.
Flanked by members of the state executive, Gauri expressed dismay that “an alien group of people could take the law into their hands and break into the national secretariat clàiming the be the new leadership of the Union”.
Stressing that no one has the monopoly of violence, he appealed to those he described as “alien groups” at the national secretariat of the union to give peace a chance by following due process in addressing their grievances.
Urging the union’s members in Taraba to remain united, Gauri said it has become necessary for the national leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, to, as a matter of urgency, wade into the crisis.