TRACAS drivers to embark on strike over tracking devices


Tension mounts as Transport Company of Anambra State ( TRACAS) Drivers embark on a peaceful protest against forceful installation of tracking devices on their vehicles with N45,000 cost.
The management of the company had ordered that every driver in the company must install tracking device at the cost of N45,000.
Speaking to our reporter, the Vice President of TRACAS drivers, Okwudiri Okonkwo Felix said they may embark on peaceful protest on Friday to draw to the attention of the governor Prof Charles Soludo to their plights.

He said the forceful imposition of N45,000 to install tracker devices in their private vehicles was uncalled for.

According to him,the management of the TRACAS has said that if anybody refuses to pay the N45,000 for the tracking device,the person will not be loaded in any of company's Parks across Nigeria.
"We cannot pay N45,000 to install trackers in our vehicles . If the management want trackers,they should finance it and not pushing the expenses to us
Our problem with management started a month ago when we wanted to renew our vehicles permit,which we do every year at the cost of N2000. When we went to renew our permit,this year,they said we will pay N10,000 against N2000. We objected and later agree to pay for peace to reign,but while trying to pay, they told us that we must pay N45,000 to install tracker devices in our private vehicles. We said no, but we later agreed on the condition that they must sponsor the fixing of the trackers and they said no ,we must pay for it. Last time, we paid N29,000 for speed limit and they never installed them " he said .
According to him, the management has stopped loading their vehicles among those who ply highways because they want us to pay N45,000 to install trackers.
He said the MD has given instruction that no body should load anyone who does not pay the renewal N10,000 and N45,000 for tracking devices.

"Today ,our drivers who went to Lagos,Abuja and other places are driving back to Anambra state empty after spending over N65,000 to buy fuel. This is because MD refused to load us. We cannot continue to be slaves in our state. We are from Anambra state,nobody shall treat us as slaves.
We are going to protest against this obonixious policy ,we own the vehicles and not the TRACAS. They are putting trackers to monitor the movement of private motors. We had even asked them to go ahead and put the trackers ,but they said we must pay N45,000. TRACAS collected N29,000 from over 2,500 highways Siena cars to put speed limit some years back,it did not do that . Today they are asking us to pay N45,000 to install trackers in our motors and they are targeting over 15,000 Siena" he stated.
He also stated that because of the issue ,the chairman House Committee on Transport, Hon Commissioner for Transport, the MD of TRACAS held meetings and agreed to step down the enforcement pending the final decision.
According to him,to their greatest surprise,three days after , the MD wrote a letter directing enforcement of N10,000 renewal and when we want to renew our permit they asked us to pay the N45,000 for trackers.

He also stated that they learnt honourable House member had called the MD for over three times and he refused to pick his calls, because he does not want to listen to him on the issue.
He also stated that the drivers had written to the governor and the Commissioner for transport and non of them replied those letters.
According to him,this gives them the impression that the governor knew what is happening because the MD is his brother.
"Do you know that the MD will boastfully and boldly tell us that we cannot do anything and that if we like, we can protest from Awka to Abuja, Lagos,weeks,months,and nothing will happen to him.
I pay N15,000 to TRACAS in every loading to Lagos and N15,000 loading coming back to Awka. I make over 10 trips in a month ,that is to say I pay TRACAS N300,000 every month and sometimes, I will make more than 10 times. I maintain my vehicles, fuel it and solves other problem on the roads. When you have problem on the road and ask for intervention, they will ask to go and solve your problem" he said .

He regretted that despite all the money TRACAS makes from drivers,it does not have permanent office in Awka,Lagos and Abuja.
According to him,the money TRACAS is generating every day is enough to take care of needs of the company and much left for the government.

He said that about 15,000 Siena cars pay over N300,000 each every month to TRACAS and yet the MD wants to stifle the drivers because they are using the state brand name.
He described those that ply local route as oil wall for the TRACAS because they are uncountable.

"The local routes are just like oil wall,the kind of money TRACAS get from them is very enomous and yet the management is not happy with us" he said
The chairman , TRACAS local routes, Mr Ebere Chukwu said that local route which comprise Owerri, Port-harcourt,Umuahia, Enugu and all routes within Anambra state pay 20% of their loading cost to TRACAS on each loading.
According to him,the management wanted force them to pay N45,000 for tracking devices,though they said the local routes are not involved, but we knew that they will still come to us after dealing with the highways.

"I think they want to use the tracking devices to make more money for themselves, they should fund it. Ordinarily,if you want to monitor our movement you put the trackers by yourself. Most car owners and drivers don't want that and they have held serveral meetings with management, Commissioner for transport, House members without meaningful outcome" he said .
He said, if the highways go on strike or protest, they will join them because injury to one is injury to all.
According to him,after dealing with highways, they will come to local.
"Last time they forced the highways to N29,000 for speed limit and said we were not involved but after the highways they came to us and collected the same amount ,yet they did not fix the speed limit. We knew tomorrow after the highways they will come after us" he said.
He appealed to the State Governor Prof Charles Soludo to critically look into the activities of TRACAS across the country.
According to him, TRACAS is creating job opportunities for Anambra youths and any thing that will dislocate the operate will increase crime in the state.

"Most of the young men in Anambra make living from TRACAS either directly or indirectly. Iam from Anambra state and I have been in TRACAS for over 10 years. We don't want anything that will create problem for TRACAS and Drivers because of the multiple effects on the state. Many youths are pulled away from crimes because of the opportunities created by TRACAS" he added.
Reacting,the the Managing Director of TRACAS Mr Chike Obiakor , said the purpose of the tracking devices is to monitory the movement of drivers because many will go out to load without paying the company.
According to him, when he assumed office they were paying 12% of their loading,but when they pleaded and I move it down to 10% and that is what they are still pay till date.
Recently,we discovered that the drivers will go to passengers houses , especially during festive period because they have many customers.
"They will go to their houses carry passengers and leave without going to our deport to pay their 10% as result we recruited about five man monitoring team stationed at Asaba, Delta State. They check all motor with our brand ,check the manifest and find out if they were properly loaded in their office with normal payments.
All the TRACAS owned vehicles have tracking device and we know where our drivers are at everytime. We said that every motor that want to work with us must have tracking device. And I told them that we are installing the trackers because of their attitude toward the company" he stated.
He advised that whoever they does not want to obey the management policy can leave, though we are not asking them to leave our company.
On the issues of N45,000 ,he said initially,they agreed to share it into two and gave them time limit under which to pay.
According to him,when the time expired they are demanded to pay full.

He said the time has elapsed and they must pay full now, noting that the bad ones among them are the people instigating the problem.
"The bad ones among them said that they cannot fix trackers in their motors and they are pressurising others not to pay.
"We even asked them to put the trackers and just give the link to us so that we can monitor their movement and make the appropriate revenue for the company" he said .
According to him, the company will like every body do his work according to the policy's of the TRACAS.
On Drivers welfare, he said they spend much to keep them free from harassment on the roads
"We settle Police, Vehicles Inspection Officer VIO and Road Safety so that they don't disturb them, but the problem is that most of them forge the authority letter from the company and when the police call, we will tell them they are not with us" he said .
According to him, himself and the Secretary to state government signed letter of authority, but now we are trying to make it difficult for anybody to forge.
" I think the tracking devices is for their good because it will assist the company to know where and when they have problem " he said .