President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najeem Usman-Yasin, has warned members of the union nationwide against being used as political thugs during the general elections.

Usman-Yasin said  in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday at the inauguration of the 20-member newly elected State Executive Committee of the union that the time when transport union members were being tagged political thugs was over.

He described NURTW as a professional organisation like other bodies, urging members to shun gratification from any politician that approached them for evil deeds.

Usman-Yasin urged the members to maintain their discipline and shun any conduct that could tarnish its image, noting that members of the union reserved the right to belong to political parties of their choice.

The national president, however, appealed to the members to get their Permanent Voter Cards, and vote for candidates that would represent them well.

“Take the advantage of the forthcoming general elections and vote credible candidates at different levels that would cater and represent your interests.

“The 2019 election is at the corner. I’m calling on members, throughout the federation, to make sure they get their voters’ cards so that they can elect credible leaders to look into affairs of the masses.

“I want you to know that driving is a profession, like any other in the world; therefore, you should not allow anyone of you to be used as political thugs during the elections.

“You should be law abiding and for no reason take laws into your hands. Try as much as possible to uphold the dignity and pride and as well avoid anything that can tarnish the good image of our union, ” he said.

Usman-Yasin added that the union had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to guarantee safe, smooth and early movement of electoral materials to voting centres across the country.

The newly-inaugurated State Chairman of the NURTW, Mr Osho Farotimi, promised on behalf of other state executive members, to involve all the branch executive members in their decision making processes.

He also assured the national executive committee of the union that they would discharge their responsibilities with utmost sense of honesty.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in one of the highlights of the event, Usman-Yasin administered oath of allegiance on the new executive members before presenting them with certificate of return.

The State Commissioner of Police, the National Security and Civil Defence Corps and Federal Road Safety Commission were represented at the inauguration.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Ekiti State, Mr Peter Olayemi, also appealed to NURTW members to always abide by the rules and regulations guiding the union, adding that the congress would not hesitate to punish any erring members. (NAN)

– Jan. 22, 2019 @ 05:55 GMT |