Yesterday, the Leadership of Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria, JDWAN, suspended it’s seven days strike over alleged extortion of Officials of the Lagos State Park and Garages Management on major roads. Although, some members of the group said they will not resume until their grievances are resolved.
JDWAN members had embarked on a seven day warning strike on Monday, yesterday being it’s third day before it was suspended. However, Akintade Abiodun, the one leading the JDWAN instructed his members to resume work at the end of a crucial stakeholders meeting with representatives of the state government led by permanent secretary, Ministry of Transportation (MOT), Gbolahan Toriola, held at the ministry’s conference hall, Alausa Ikeja.
While the strike was still on, the state government had summoned the leadership of the unregistered union to the meeting with the intention of resolving their grievances over alleged extortion. The state government and the transport union leadership, however, agreed to reschedule the meeting, in order to allow a larger attendance of members of the state parks and Garages, led by Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly called MC Oluomo,; who were absent.
At the end of the meeting, JDWAN instructed other transport unions, which include: Ibile Drivers stakeholders Association of Nigeria, MCDWA, Federal Assisted Mass Transit Incorporation (FAMTI), owners, Drivers and Owners Operators of Lagos (ODOOP), Mini bus Drivers Welfare Association (MNDWA), to resume operations.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Gbolahan Toriola, said that the State Government was determined to end the strike action as soon as possible. Toriola expressed the government’s concern over the lingering strike saying the interest of the public necessitated the meeting after listening to the series of allegations, assault on members and demands by the leaders of the union at the meeting.
