NURTW employs over 15,000 in Nasarawa – Chairman

Mr Salihu Adamu, Chairman, Nasarawa State Branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), said on Wednesday that the union has over 15,000 employees in the state.

The Chairman disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia.

According to him, the union has the largest workforce and is the second largest employer of labour in the state, after the government.

He added that the 15,000 persons were spread across the 88 branches of the union in the 13 Local Governments and 18 Council Development Areas in the state.

The chairman explained that for a branch to be qualified for registration, it must have not less than 120 members and there are branches that have up to 200 members.

Adamu said the union had decided to soften the conditions of membership, in order to take as many youths as possible off the streets, thereby stemming the challenge of unemployment.

“The union had reduced its membership registration fee to N500 and decided to give financial support to any member facing difficulties, as a palliative measure.

“All these measures are aimed at improving the welfare of our members and taking some of our unemployed youths off the streets,” he said.

Adamu also said that the union had set up a machinery in motion to check overloading, speeding and dangerous overtaking by motorists.

He called on other rival unions to adhere strictly to the mandate of their operations and stop interfering in the responsibilities of the NURTW, in order to ensure continued peace in the state.

Adamu, therefore, warned members in the habit of violating traffic rules to desist or be prepared to face disciplinary measures if caught.