EXPLOITATION FROM WITHIN NURTW: A UNION OR AN OPPRESSIVE GUILD?

Just of recent, a global icon made a fantastic observation about the state of corruption in Nigeria. We can't be happy with that but what happens when even unions that exist solely to champion the cause of their disadvantaged workers milk them consistently?

The National Union of Road Transport Workers has been around since human's gregariousness is a necessity and the Constitution provides for the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly. Workers in the need to provide means of commuting people and their properties are expected to be protected by this umbrella. Members of this union are peopled by the hoi polloi known as tricyclists, motorcyclists, taxi and bus drivers except for those for private use.

It is a fact that these people are mostly those betrayed by their government with no employment opportunity. In the bid to earn means to sustain themselves they found themselves in arguably one of the most uncharitable employments by themselves. At least, if the state fails to provide for the downtrodden, the concerned people must take charge of their own life.

Knowingly, the reward system for workers in Nigeria leaves more to be desired but the inhuman treatment the road transport workers are being subjected can only be condemned as criminal acts as the workers are being denied of the fruits of their sweat at every turn, ranging from payment of skyrocketed registration fee, exorbitant daily charge and appalling human relation.

While having a conversation with some tricyclists in Ologuneru, Eleyele, Ibadan, it was discovered that entry fee for newcomers is #30, 000 irrespective of who owns the instrument of work knowing that majority of the drivers pay for their taxi, bus, motorcycle and tricycle instalmentally. They have a family to keep, a life that deserves dignity to live and most importantly, the need to enjoy the fruits of one's sweat. But Nay! The union leaders through various obnoxious policies would make sure that the aspirations of these people suffer blows every now and then.

Notably, there are too many odds against these people and it seems that the conspiracy of silence has blinded the whole nation from seeing the rot in the NURTW. This is nothing but a disservice to humanity. Apart from the cost of maintaining their instrument of work, family and others, the people are subjected to extortion. In Lagos, daily fee payable by tricyclists is not less than #1500, motorcyclists #1000, while the interstate buses after the payment of the daily fee are made to relinquish the money payable by passengers on the last seat to the union leaders. In Ibadan, tricyclists are made to pay #300 for a daily ticket on which #100 is boldly written. Why? These pervade the NURTW when their members ply deadly roads and are further expected to contribute to national development in some ways.

With these, one begins to wonder what role the government has in the rot in the union - especially the state governments.

The treatment meted out to these people by the general public when there is hike in fares is another bone of contention. When the workers are inconvenienced and rendered dissatisfied, what way do we expect them to react to the predicament they have found themselves? Yet,we rain insults on them and bath them with abuses. A case of "double jeopardy".

It is expedient and a case of emergency to address the ills of NURTW. How?

1. Transparency must be maintained by the union as most of the fees it collects are unaccounted for. Documents lending credence to the need for the hike in registration fee and others should be made available along with the records of fees collected over the years.

2. Downward review of fees should be done to make life more comfortable for the union workers in this period of economic downturn.

3 Government at all levels should do the needful in providing good roads in order not to perpetually endanger the lives of the citizens.

4. Consistent auditing of the union account must be done to fish out the bloated union tyrants.

5. Anti-graft agencies should be invited to investigate the union account regularly and erring leader should be brought to book.

6. Union workers should cooperate and unite to protest the inhuman treatment they are being subjected to by their leaders who do nothing other than sit at the garage and wait for the proceeds.

7. Public orientation towards commercial drivers and others needs to be corrected by seeing the union workers as fellow Nigerians who out of the zilch benefit given them by the state forge a means of livelihood, thereby eschewing the temptation of all other vices.

8. All stakeholders in this sector should work together to put a stop to this sector being an Avenue for churning miscreants, thugs and hooligans.

In order to experience an all-encompassing change, we must not only put the government in order, but our personal lives, and various activities must align with the change agendum.

Written by:
Bakare Tobi
A graduate of lautech.

Muraina Mujeeb
A student of Obafemi Awolowo University

http://www.smartbrainsng.com/2016/05/exploitation-from-within-nurtw-union-or.html?m=1

Cc: Seun, lalasticlala

FTC