Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has commended the National Industrial Court Abuja for its judgment that affirmed Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa as the authentic national leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
This was contained in a statement In a statement signed by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and made available to journalists in Abuja Monday night.
It could recalled that the court sacked the Tajudeen Agbede-led Caretaker Committee of the NURTW, on Thursday.
While delivering her judgment on the leadership crisis rocking the union, Justice O. O. Oyewumi held that the delegates’ conference across the six zonal councils held on May 24, 2023, where Baruwa emerged as President for a second term in office was valid.
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The presiding judge also restrained the former President of the Union, Najeem Yasin, who was the Board of Trustees chairman, from interfering in the day-to-day running of union affairs.
She held that Najeem could only act as chairman of the board.
The court also validated the Quadrennial National Delegates Conference held on August 23, 2023, at Ta’al Hotels in Lafia, Nasarawa State where the president and other national officers were inaugurated.
Oyewumi declared illegal, null, and unconstitutional the national delegates’ conference held on October 25, 2023, where the current Acting President, Isa Ore, and his National Administrative Council were said to have emerged.
According to the judge, there was no evidence of a crisis in the union.
Consequently, she held that there was no basis for the invocation of the ‘doctrine of necessity’ that led to the constitution of the caretaker committee.
The statement said; “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress would like to commend the courage of the National Industrial Court for affirming the executive of Comrade Baruwa as the lawful leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers.”
NLC went further to say that the judgment is a tribute to the personal qualities of the Presiding Judge, Honourable Justice O. O Oyewumi as well as the growing image of the National Industrial Court as a Court to reckon with, as a Court of justice and as a Court that would not readily cave in to the overbearing influence of the executive.
“At a wider level, it is suggestive of hope, freedom, justice, and independence of thought in the judiciary for the judicial officers with the requisite skill, knowledge, and courage to make the right decisions.
“We may wish to recall the unlawful dislodgment of the Baruwa-led leadership actively aided by the police.
“In spite of the openly partisan and dishonourable role played by the police in the matter, the Ministry of Labour did not summon the needed courage to ensure justice came the way of the Baruwa leadership.
“Eventually, this matter and the purported proscription of RTEAN became a sore point in our relations with the government which in spite of its promise to have the issues resolved “in line with relevant ILO Conventions and the Nigerian Labour Act”, did nothing.
“It was this failure that led to the matter being taken to the National Industrial Court from whence came this laudable judgment,” the statement further read.
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