‘It has a political undertone’ – MC Oluomo reacts to strike of commercial bus drivers
The Chairman, Lagos State Parks and Garages Management, Musiliu Akinsanya, known better as MC Oluomo, has reacted to the strike action embarked upon by commercial bus drivers, saying it is politically motivated.
Lagosians suffered difficulties getting their places of work on Monday. Some residents trekked a distance while some paid through their nose to use Uber.
The Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria began strike on Monday and said its strike action continues till November 6, 2022 over extortions on the roads allegedly by the motor parks and garages management officials popularly known as agbero.
In a statement, Monday evening, signed by its National Leader, Akintade Abiodun, JDWAN commended its members and Lagosians for their support while condemning the alleged attack a member, Ashimiyu Idowu, who was later reportedly released.
But reacting to the reports, Oluomo, through the Secretary of the Parks and Garages Management (Operations), Olayiwola Lemboye, said the agency had a conflict resolution mechanism to address the grievances of bus drivers.
He said that the state secretariat of the agency is always open to address issues among its members.
“As we speak, we have not received any communication from anyone on the issue of extortion or harassment. They ought to have reported the matter to their branch chairmen or bring it to the state secretariat if the branch chairmen are not forthcoming,” he stated in a statement.
He cautioned the group against politicising the operations of commercial transportation in the state.
“The purported strike action has a political undertone. If not, how come they are coming under a name unknown to the law? The government recognises two bodies – the suspended National Union of Road Transport Union in Lagos State and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria. The Joint Drivers’ Welfare Association of Nigeria is not known.
“Despite that, the state government’s Liaison Officer to the Parks and Garages Management, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, has also waded into the matter and held a meeting with them. Instead of adhering to the agreement reached, they resulted in blackmailing the respected retired police officer,” he said.
Comrade Lemboye denied the allegation of attack on members of the aggrieved body.
“The Chairman of Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya is a peaceful person and will never subscribe to such illegalities. More so, our operations are limited in the Berger area of Badagry where they alleged that some of their people were attacked,” he said.
While enjoining members of the public to go about their lawful duties, he said Akinsanya has been liaising with branch chairmen on how to handle the grievances of the aggrieved transporters in a peaceful manner.
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