Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) has called on the Lagos State Government, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to resist the pressure to be dragged into what it termed selfish agenda of individuals bent on hijacking legitimate structures of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state.
In a statement signed by its President, Alex Omotehinse, the group urged Sanwo-Olu to impress it on Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo) to be contended with his roles as the Chief Manager of Parks and Garages and allow other stakeholders within NURTW to perform other functions.
He said: “It should be worrisome that the civilian coup in NURTW clearly appears to enjoy active connivance of the Nigerian state as manifested by the partisanship of the Nigerian Police Force. What is, however, of immediate concern and source of worry is the subterranean
maneuvers to impose MC Oluomo as leader of NURTW in Lagos State in spite of having publicly severed relationship with NURTW and assumed a new role as the Chief Manager of Lagos Parks and Garages.
“We are deeply worried that the undemocratic and crude imposition of outsiders on legitimately constituted authority through the back doors and dark corridors to hijack the leadership of the NURTW is manifesting in Lagos State.
“Our position is clearly in defence of the constitutional rights of citizens in a democratic dispensation. The right to form and belong to an association including Trade Union based on established laws and regulations is eloquently recognised and guaranteed by the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”
Omotehinse noted that the freedom of association is one of the cardinal rights of global concerns, because it was enshrined in the United Nations (UN,) as well as the Charter of Human and Peoples Rights of the African Union (AU).
