Delegates to the quadrennial Congress of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Zone 2, South West, have appointed Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, as the acting chairman of the union in the South West region.
During the congress held in Osogbo, delegates also appealed to the governments of Ondo, Oyo, and Osun States to allow the NURTW to return to motor parks in their states.
Nasiru Komolafe, former NURTW National Treasurer, who presided over the congress, made these announcements and resolutions. He stated that MC Oluomo, who previously served as the Deputy Chairman of the zone, would act as the chairman of the union until the election of a substantive chairman.
Komolafe urged the governments of states where NURTW activities have been proscribed to reconsider their decisions, emphasizing that the post of the NURTW National President has been zoned to the South West.
He also explained that the union couldn’t conduct its zonal congress because it couldn’t form a quorum due to the limited number of states where the union is currently operating.
Komolafe said, “We are supposed to have six states in Zone 2, South West, but unfortunately, we have only two states where NURTW is currently operating. In the other four states, we are not operating there. By virtue of the NURTW constitution, we can’t conduct a zonal election with just two states out of six.
“At least, we are supposed to have four states. So we deliberated and agreed to shift the zonal Congress to October 19, 2023, because we are having the National Delegate Conference on October 25. I am using this medium to appeal to the remaining State Governments in the South West to please allow NURTW to work in their States.
“The post of the National President of the union has been zoned to the South West, and if we fail to hold a zonal congress, another zone may take the office from us. We appeal to our governors to allow NURTW to return to parks in their states.”
Regarding the leadership of the union in the South West, Komolafe further explained, “The Zonal Chairman was not at the meeting, but the Deputy Zonal Chairman attended. The congress agreed that Musiliu Akinsanya, fondly called MC Oluomo, who until recently was the Deputy Chairman of the zone, should take over the mantle of leadership of the zone in an Acting capacity pending the time we will conduct the election.”