- The resolution laid to rest the contentious issue of RTEAN leadership with the unanimous appointment of a new leadership for the union in the state.
- For 15 months, the activities of the RTEAN were banned in Lagos state following a leadership crisis that engulfed the association.
Adesina Hussaini, often known as Okanlomo, has been named the new chairman of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) for Lagos State
Along with Okanlomo’s appointment, the union declared the dissolution of the 35-member Lagos State RTEAN executive council, which had been previously inaugurated.
The development was announced by Musa Muhammad, the National President of RTEAN, in a statement made accessible to media on Saturday.
Muhammed said, “In reference to the resolution reached by the Federal Executive Council and organised Labour in reconciling our matter with the Lagos State Government and the national executive of our great association, the RTEAN, we announce the dissolution of our former structure of Lagos State executives council members, and adopt the appointment of Adeshina Hussaini (Okanlomo) as the chairman of the Lagos State branch of the RTEAN.
“All those members who were suspended in the course of the matter are hereby recalled for the interest of peace and harmony in the state. We call on all members to be law-abiding and constitutionally guided.”
In another statement signed by the RTEAN General Secretary, Yusuf Adeniyi, the union noted that the move complied with the provision of item 6 of the Memorandum of Understanding dated October 2, 2023, between the Federal Government of Nigeria and organised labour, to bolster industrial harmony and ensure strict adherence to the rule of law.
Adeniyi said, “The contentious issue of RTEAN leadership has been laid to rest with the unanimous appointment of a new state chairman. Adesina Hussaini a.k.a Okanlomo is the new chairman of the RTEAN in Lagos State effective from January 1, 2024.
“The Lagos State RTEAN and all property hitherto taken away will hereby be returned to the union. The operation of the RTEAN in all motor parks in Lagos State is to resume with immediate effect. No member of the RTEAN will be victimised by the union or the Lagos State Government for their role in the dispute.
“We are therefore calling on all our members to comply with the peaceful resolution reached and cooperate with the government and security agencies in discharging their duties. We thank all those who contributed in one way or the other, for seeing this matter get resolved amicably.”
The 15-month conflict between the Lagos State Government and the RTEAN was settled by the Federal Government.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed in a letter dated January 6, 2024, addressed to the Trade Union Congress, that a peace initiative mediated during a meeting with the leadership of organised labour had resulted in the lifting of the prohibition originally placed on the union’s operations in Lagos State.
The resolution, which unanimously appointed a new leadership for the union in the state, resolved the controversial question of RTEAN leadership.
Following a crisis among the association’s leadership, the RTEAN’s activities were prohibited in Lagos State for a period of fifteen months.
As a result, the state government outlawed the organisation and named a 35-member Caretaker Committee to assume control of the union’s operations.
But thanks to the Office of the NSA’s intervention, all of the previously contentious matters have now been resolved amicably.
Adeshina Teslim, also known as Okanlomo, has been named the new Chairman of the RTEAN in Lagos State, effective January 1, 2024, according to a letter signed by the NSA and sent to the TUC Secretary-General.
Ribadu claims that the RTEAN’s Lagos State office and other previously stolen properties will be given back to the union.
He added that the operation of the RTEAN in all motor parks in Lagos State is to resume with immediate effect
“No member of RTEAN will be victimised by the union or Lagos State Government for their role in the dispute. Lagos State Government, its agencies, and the general public are to be intimated about the peaceful resolution.
“On this premise, you are humbly requested to intimate the union on the amicable resolution of the dispute and the highlights of the agreements reached,” the NSA stated in the letter.
Ribadu noted that the action complied with the provisions of Item 6 of the Memorandum of Understanding dated October 2, 2023, between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Organised Labour to intervene in the crisis to facilitate peaceful resolution of the issues.
The intervention of the Federal Government, he said, was also in line with the commitment of the present administration to bolster industrial harmony and ensure strict adherence to the rule of law.