AMATO Raises Alarm Over NURTW, RTEAN Harassment of Members Along Lagos Logistics Routes
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has raised the alarm over what it described as the harassment and extortion of its members by operatives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) along key logistics routes in Lagos State.
In a statement issued on Friday, the National Secretary of AMATO, Comrade Mohammed Bala Sanni, said the affected routes include Kirikiri, Abule Osun, Agboju, Iyana Iba, Amuwo and Ikorodu, among other logistics corridors used by its members in the state.
According to the statement, “NURTW/RTEAN are harassing and extorting our members at Kirikiri, abule osun, agboju, iyana iba, amuwo, Ikorodu and other of our logistics routes in Lagos State. We are drawing the attention of Lagos State Government, the Police, DSS and other security agencies to the unlawful violent activities of NURTW and RTEAN against our members to avoid confrontation that might affect public peace in Lagos State.”
AMATO went further to state its legal position on freedom of association and the imposition of union tickets on drivers and transport operators who are not members of either union, citing relevant provisions of Nigerian law.
The association noted that the Trade Union (Amendment) Act 2005 recognises the voluntary nature of trade union membership, stressing that no employee should be compelled to join a trade union or victimised for refusing to join or remain a member of one. It argued that where its drivers are not members of RTEAN or NURTW, there should be no lawful basis for compelling them to pay union dues, purchase union tickets, or submit to union-related levies simply for operating within the transport sector.
AMATO also cited Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, including the right of citizens to form or belong to associations of their choice for the protection of their legitimate personal, economic and professional interests.
The association maintained that no group should interfere with or unlawfully restrict the right of its drivers and transport operators to belong to an association of their choice, insisting that the imposition of tickets or levies by RTEAN or NURTW on non-members should be discontinued where such imposition lacks a valid statutory or other lawful basis.
AMATO called on the Lagos State Government, the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to intervene and put an end to the alleged unlawful activities of NURTW and RTEAN against its members, warning that unchecked confrontation along the affected routes could threaten public peace in the state.
