Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has lifted the ban on activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state.
Accordingly, the Union has elected a new set of executive members to pilot its affairs for the next four years.
The new executive, led by Comrade Saturday Oamen which was inaugurated at the Government House in Benin City, was charged to foster peace, progress, orderliness and protection of the rights of the common man.
The charge was made by Governor Okpebholo and the national president of NURTW, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as Mc Oluomo and other national officers of the union.
The swearing-in of the newly elected chairman and other executive members of the Edo NURTW followed the lifting of the ban on union activities by the governor.
The inauguration of the new executives was performed on behalf of the national headquarters by the national secretary of the union, Comrade Kayode Agbeyana.
Governor Okpebholo, represented by the secretary to the state government (SSG), Barr. Umar Musa Ikhilor, expressed happiness for the support given to him during the September 21 gubernatorial election hence the lifting of the ban to enable the union contribute to the development of the state.
The Governor said, NURTW as an arm of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), represents the interests of Edo people and promised that his administration has resolved to bring peace, progress and orderliness to the union.
He noted that with hundreds of thousands of members of the union across the country, the state government was comfortable with its national leadership under Alh. Musiliu Akinsanya describing him as a man who will bring peace to the state branch of the union.
Okpebholo tasked the newly inaugurated executives to bring the desired change to the road transport sector in the state.
On his part, national president of NURTW, Alh. Akinsanya urged the new Edo State NURTW chairman to carry every member along and ensure peace across all branches in the 18 local government areas of the state chapter.
National general secretary, Comrade Kayode Agbeyana noted that despite the disarray which previously affected the union’s activities, the state governor lifted the ban on activities of the union to enable their swearing-in to bring peace and progress to the state’s transport sector.
Edo State acting chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Bernard Joman said the inauguration attests to the rescue of the NURTW after over 20 years of hijack by previous leaderships of the union.