In a landmark decision, the National Industrial Court in Abuja on Monday reinstated Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa as the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for a second term.
The court’s ruling effectively resolved the leadership deadlock within the NURTW and invalidated the authority of the Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede-led caretaker committee.
Presiding Judge, Justice O.O. Oyewumi affirmed the legitimacy of the Zonal Delegates Conference, where Baruwa was re-elected on May 24, 2023.
Furthermore, the court officially recognized the Quadrennial National Delegate Conference held on August 23, 2023, as the valid assembly for inaugurating national officers.
“Given the evidence presented before the court, it is evident that both the Zonal Delegates Conference and the Quadrennial National Delegate Conference were held in compliance with the union’s constitution. As such, the leadership elected at these conferences is rightfully recognized as legitimate,” Justice Oyewumi declared.
The ruling also brought to an end the tenure of the former President, Comrade Najeem Usman Yasin’s involvement in the day-to-day affairs of the union, although he was affirmed to retain his role as chairman of the board.
In a dramatic twist, the court declared the national delegates conference held on October 25, 2023, which purportedly elected Alhaji Isa Ore and his council, as ‘illegal, null and void, and unconstitutional.’
Justice Oyewumi clarified, “There was no evidence to suggest any crisis that would warrant the invocation of the ‘doctrine of necessity’, which led to the formation of a caretaker committee.”
This ruling came at a tumultuous time for the NURTW. On August 28, 2023, the Lagos State Park Management Committee, headed by Musiliu Akinsanya, alias MC Oluomo, forcefully seized the union’s secretariat in Garki II, despite the presence of armed security personnel.
The hostile takeover culminated in the arrest and subsequent detention of Baruwa and four other national officers on September 13, 2023, at the disbanded facility of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Abuja.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) stepped in, giving a 48-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian Police to withdraw from the secretariat or risk a nationwide strike.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, in a joint statement, threatened to mobilize all affiliate groups for a demonstration to support the NURTW’s lawfully elected leaders.
The NLC accused the Nigeria Police Force of overstepping its bounds, asserting that the police had “assumed the role of arbitrator in disputes, in direct contravention of the laws governing industrial relations.”
Moreover, they criticized the Inspector General of Police for allegedly facilitating the takeover of the NURTW national secretariat and attempting to unseat the elected leadership in favour of a ‘puppet’.
Vanguard.
