The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has called on the Lagos State Government to reverse its decision not to allow passenger vehicles from the northern part of the country into Lagos State.
The Secretary General of RTEAN, Mr. Yusuf Adeniyi, made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday.
Adeniyi said Kwara and some other northern state RTEAN branches received information that the Lagos State government has stopped the operation of passenger vehicles coming from the northern part of the state.
He said the directive came from the state agent, the State Deputy Chairman, Seyi Bamigbose (AKA Students) Parks and Garages, which was formed by the Lagos government following the suspension of RTEAN operations in Lagos State.
“The matter has been taken to the National Industrial Court (NIC) and the court has ordered the parties involved to maintain the status quo.
“The Lagos State Government has refused to bring in the Parks and Garages committee which should comply with the order.
“Now, the association (RTEAN) is beginning to believe that the action of the Lagos State government is tantamount to contempt of court order.
“The recent action (stopping the operation of passenger vehicles coming from the northern part of the state) by the Lagos State government through Parks and Garages is an action that could cause a breach of public peace.
“To this end, the association is calling on the Lagos State government to immediately reverse its decision not to allow passenger vehicles from the northern part of the state to enter Lagos State.”
According to Adeniyi, reversing the act will allow freedom of movement of all citizens as guaranteed by section 41 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The general secretary said RTEAN is a registered trade union under the law as stated in section 5 sub 7 of the Trade Union Amendment Act, Federation Law Cap T14, which empowers RTEAN to operate anywhere in the country it is a labor union including Lagos.
“RTEAN is a peaceful organization that operates within the realm of Law and will remain so.”