Simon Lalong, the Minister of Labour and Employment has directed the suspension of all activities by the factions of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) pending an amicable resolution of the dispute.
In a letter signed by Mr. Emmanuel Igbinosun, Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, on behalf of the minister, and addressed to the National President of the union, Lalong said the decision followed the meeting it held with the NURTW executives.
The letter is titled, ‘Leadership Of The National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW) And Industrial Coup D’état By The Former President Of The Union, Alh Najeem Usman Yasin And His Rampaging Illegal Militia-A Clarion Call For Intervention.’
The letter noted that both factions in the dispute were notified about the development.
The letter read, in part, “Following the meeting held with you on the above subject, I am directed to inform you that, in line with the power conferred on the Honourable Minister of Labour by Section 5 of the Trade Dispute Act CAP T8 Law of Federation of Nigeria, 2004, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment has apprehended this dispute.”
Trouble started when the man denied the allegation levelled against him and insisted that he did not carry any passengers in his vehicle.
The ensuing altercation resulted in fisticuffs as the man and the leader of the branch exchanged blows, a source told Abuja City Journal Other members of the union joined in the brawl and beat the young man till he was almost unconscious.
He was dragged on the floor as they hit him with sticks and iron rods.
It took the timely intervention of some bystanders who intervened to rescue him from the hoodlums who threatened to kill him.
