By Emeagi Emeka Williams
It took the law-abiding leadership of the Union of Tipper and Quarrier Employees of Nigeria to prevent possible violence by peacefully rejecting some people’s illicit acts in the name of generating fund for the Lagos State Government according
to BoldNEWS Africa correspondent.
The members of the Union of Tipper and Quarries Employees of Nigeria, led by Comrade Kamorudeen Alago, moved in convoy with their Tipper Trucks to the border of Lagos and Ogun States on October 10, 2022, to register their dissatisfaction and Peaceful rejection of the imposed alleged illegal levies known as UTTAWAN and Lagos State Government CONSOLIDATED Ticket.
Comrade Kamorudeen Alago, said the operators of the alleged illegal road levies mounted roadblocks at a line that marks the border of both states; a point marking the border of Ogun State and Lagos Express on Ijebu- Ode- Epe Road and collecting money ranging from one thousand Naira to three thousand Naira per each Truck while impersonating as Lagos State Government approved agents.
Comrade Alago, who is the union’s Chairman, stated that it was their fact-finding visit to the Lagos State Ministry of Transport that revealed the illegalities, the Union was reliably inform that the levies are not known to the Ministry, it was the revelation that triggered the union’s concern, necessitating a protest at the alleged illegal’s operation point.
He said the union took the protest action publicly to the operation point for public and the stakeholders’ attention and to put an end to the alleged illegality before it undermines public tranquillity.
He further stated that the levies will be rejected because they are illegal and violate our members’ rights to utilize the roads.
The Union of Tipper and Quarries Employees of Nigeria’s Chairman, Comrade Kamorudeen Alago, stated that illegal activities will not be tolerated and that the Union will pursue its causes within the laws governing National Roads Usage and with a peaceful understanding that will allow its members’ businesses to run smoothly without intimidation or hindrance
He claimed that the alleged gang is only interested in exploiting the union’s adherence to the law and destroying the long-standing mutual understanding between the union and the Lagos State Government. He emphasized that his union will not tolerate any unguided activity by impostors that would jeopardize the good relationship.
Comrade Kamorudeen went on to say that having a truck on the road without government assistance cost the Union’s members millions of Naira in purchase and maintenance costs, but they complied with all legitimate government demands without hesitation, and they will not welcome anyone who tries to fool their members with illegal road levies
During an interview with the Journalists, Comrade Adewale Pama, an unhappy Union member, stated that the members are only interested in government-approved levies and that the Papers known to their Union did not include the UTTAWAN levy and the Lagos State Government Consolidated Daily Ticket as declared by the illegality’s operators.
He stated that the Union is well aware that all road taxes and levies must be presented before the Federal or State Houses of Assembly and be passed into law after a public hearing before enforcement, and that the group should make such documents backing the levies known as consolidated permits from the Lagos State Government should be made available
Comrade Adewale Pama further noted that the Union believes in His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-olu, the Governor of Lagos State and that the Lagos State Government, as a trailblazer, will not tolerate any illegality as a model for other governments to follow.
Adeyemon Students, the Head of Drivers, stated that the drivers had undergone immeasurable hardship from various people posing as agents of the Lagos State Government along the Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway axis. “From now on we will not allow any future violations of our right to do business,” he said.
Adeyemon urged the Lagos State Government to maintain the state’s sterling reputation by prohibiting criminals from being associated with the state name
Hon. Sylvester Oluwadahunsi Ogunkelu (aka Sketel), Representing Epe Constituency Two of Lagos State, refuted the claim that the alleged illicit ticket was approved by the Lagos State Government in a phone conversation with our correspondent.
The Honorable stated that the state is not awarding Consolidate Ticket(s), and that additional efforts will be made to examine the origins of the paper.
The Honorable publicly distanced the State Government from the UTTAWAN ticket, stating that UTTAWAN is known to be a united group for Truck Operation Associations and that they have sole responsibility assessed only on its members in accordance with their decision.
