Musiliu Akinsanya, the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, regained control of the union's national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday. The development came after a faction led by Tajudeen Baruwa occupied the secretariat on Monday, citing court rulings in his favour.
According to reports, Baruwa visited the secretariat to assess the damage done to the property during the takeover. He insisted that his actions were backed by valid court judgments and that the union had formally notified the police, attaching copies of the judgments to facilitate the recovery of the secretariat.
Baruwa alleged that a member of his faction was attacked during the process, but he maintained that the situation was under control. He also expressed his willingness to reconcile with the opposing faction, stating that the union is a lawful organisation and not a troublemaker.
In a statement posted on his Instagram page, Akinsanya described the incident as a "forceful takeover" and maintained that due legal processes were still ongoing. He disclosed that the ruling had been appealed, with a stay of execution already in place.
The ongoing power struggle within the National Union of Road Transport Workers is a stark reminder of the challenges facing Nigeria's labour unions. The factional dispute, led by Tajudeen Baruwa and Musiliu Akinsanya, has resulted in the occupation of the union's national secretariat in Abuja. This development raises concerns about the rule of law and the ability of unions to navigate the complexities of Nigeria's judicial system. The alleged attack on a member of Baruwa's faction is a disturbing indication of the tensions within the union. As the two factions engage in a bitter dispute, ordinary Nigerians are left to wonder about the implications of this power struggle on the country's transportation sector. The economic impact of this dispute is yet to be fully felt, but one thing is certain: the people who will bear the brunt of this conflict are the same Nigerians who rely on the union's services to transport goods and people across the country.
