Commercial bus drivers in Lagos state under the umbrella of their union, the Joint Drivers Welfare Association Of Nigeria (JDWAN) says there will be no going back on its planned seven days’ work boycott starting from Monday( today).
JIDWAN in a statement signed by its national leader, Akintade Abiodun, and made available to NOHR said that the Lagos state government has failed to address any of its demands after the union met with the government representatives.
“The Lagos state government has since made no concrete response to JDWAN demands, rather, their representatives only asked for another letter to be submitted on Monday, which is regarded as a joke on our part, having released a press statement with concise demands, we also honoured the demand to deliver a physical copy of the letters to the Lagos State government, the SSS, The Commissioner of police and commissioner for transport respectively.
“Drivers and commuters have had a brimful of extortion and harassment from the motor park management and caretaker committee thugs popularly known as Agbero. it is also visible to the blind in Lagos that the cost of goods and services is a consequence of Agbero’s extortion, no goods can be delivered and 95% of working-class residents can be transported without the service of commercial drivers. The unfettered and violent extortion by the Lagos government agents has not only increased transportation fare beyond the affordability of workers but also made every good and service out of reach of the poor Lagosians”. the statement said
The Union reiterated its four-point demand made to the Lagos state government including immediate obedience to an existing court order, removal of thugs at bus stops, an end to harassment of drivers by Lagos traffic agencies, and building more bus stops across Lagos.
