Oyo govt withdraws workers’ mass transit buses •Says it’s temporary

THE effect of cash crunch in Oyo State lingers with the recent withdrawal of mass transit ‘Ajumose’ buses for civil servants working at state secretariat, Ibadan. State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), however, has said that the union was not party to a purported agreement with the state government to suspend the lifting of civil servants working at state secretariat using the state mass transit bus ‘Ajumose’. This position is on the heels of some assertions that the decision of the state government to withdraw the buses, soon after the suspension of the workers’ strike on June 5, was part of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) the union reached with the government. Oyo NLC chairman, Mr Waheed Olojede, speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, said he was only intimated of the development by some workers and immediately swung into inquiring from government on the reason for the withdrawal. He disclosed that the government gave paucity of funds, in terms of maintenance and fuelling, as reason for the withdrawal. Olojede added that it would be wrong for any worker to assert that the union was party to a decision which would further burden the workers of the state. While noting that the union had began to dialogue with government, in this regard, Olojede appealed to government, to in the interest of workers of the state, resume the free lifting of workers, introduced by the Abiola Ajimobi-led government. “We are not a party to such agreement to withdraw the vehicles. Do you think it is proper for a labour leader to take away the comfort of workers and sign such agreement? We were told and have contacted government to ask why. The government complains of paucity of funds in terms of maintenance and fuelling. We appeal to the government to do everything possible to return them to the roads. “Moreso, the provision had been previously made. It will not be proper for government, to at this very critical time of government’s inability to pay salaries, to withdraw the vehicles. In fact, we have spoken with the Head of Service on this matter, several times and the HOS is acting on our behalf before the governor. At a time, we demanded that where our physical presence is required, we won’t mind so that we talk it over and the buses will be returned.” Commenting, Head of Service, Mr Soji Eniade, affirmed that the withdrawal was temporal and the buses would return once the financial situation of the state improved. The decision to withdraw the buses is due to scarcity of funds. The buses must be fuelled and we know the financial situation of the state. However, it is a temporary withdrawal. As soon as the situation normalises, the buses would be returned.” Meanwhile, some workers noted that the government’s decision may be considered fair owing to fear that continuation of the running of the free transport scheme might affect their transport allowance and salary, in total. They, however, expressed disgust at the withdrawal, as they were now subjected to further hardship, despite that they were yet to receive their salaries for months.