The Motorcycle Operators’ Union of Nigeria (MOUN), Lagos State branch, has called for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s intervention to ensure that official recognition is granted to the body as the sole motorcycles’ operators union in the state and also ensure “that MOUN be accorded all the rights and privileges of a duly registered trade union in Nigeria.”
Solicitor to the Union, Barrister Jiti Ogunye, in the company of Chairman, MOUN, Lagos State Branch, Taiwo Adetunji, made at a press conference, which took place at the Ladi Lawal Press Centre, Secretariat of the Lagos State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ikeja, and attended by leadership and members of the body.
Ogunye, while making the call, alleged subversion on the part of some officials of the State Ministry of Transportation in the implementation of recognition and certification for operation in Lagos State, despite the governor’s directive that the body be granted recognition, urging for immediate remedy for peace to reign in the state.
The legal counsel, while noting that letters were equally written by MOUN to the State Attorney-General and the Ministry of Transportation, seeking for recognition, sadly said that some officials of Ministry of Transportation “did not only refuse to give us (MOUN), Lagos State Branch, and the National Leadership (represented by the Secretary General of MOUN), a certificate or communication of recognition, but also repeatedly avoided us, all claiming that they had not been directed.”
He said, rather the officials subverted Governor Sanwo-Olu’s directive, claiming dubiously that “there is an intra-union dispute in MOUN.”
“For the avoidance of any doubt, there is no intra-union dispute in MOUN on the issue of the recognition accorded MOUN in Lagos State.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, MOUN has a Branch and an Executive Council in Lagos State, which was constituted in 2023.
“This Lagos State Branch has been operating in readiness for the recognition and certification for operation, which the Governor has graciously granted. On May 1, 2024, as a part of its activities for the Workers Day Celebration, which held at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, members, and the Executive Council of MOUN, Lagos State Branch, as one of the accredited affiliates of NLC, Lagos State, participated in the traditional parade and march-past where the Governor was in attendance as the Guest of Honour. The Governor, indeed, acknowledged MOUN on that occasion,” he stated.
Speaking further, Ogunye disclosed that his client, MOUN had since submitted a petition dated 9th October 2024 to Governor Sanwo-Olu, seeking redress by demanding for “withdrawal and rescission of the letter of recognition and other letters purportedly issued to MOUN but handed over to third parties who are not members of MOUN to empower them to forcibly take over MOUN in Lagos State.”
This was just as Ogunye, in line with the petition with the petition written to the governor, dated 26th of April, 2024, called for proper implementation of the approval granted by the governor, recognizing MOUN in the state, and certifying it for operation.
“The Governor should direct the Hon. Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Commissioner for Justice to convene a stakeholders meeting amongst MOUN, Lagos State Branch (with the General Secretary and their counsel); the leadership of the two pre-existing motorcycles associations in Lagos State (MOALS and NNAMORAL); the representative of the Lagos State Branch of the unions (NURTW and RTEAN) to which MOALS and NNAMORAL are affiliated; and Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State; where transitional issues, and issues of accommodation and protection of interests and integration of the departing and soon to become defunct management platforms of MOALS and NNAMORAL shall be discussed and resolved, to pave way for a seamless commencement of full operation by MOUN in Lagos State.
“It is our fervent hope that the Lagos State Governor, His Excellency, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu will grant our Union the justice we deserve,” he said.
Meanwhile, as at press time, the State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, were yet to respond to messages sent to them by our correspondent over the matter.
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