19th October, 2023
By Joan Nwagwu
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has passed votes of no confidence on Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, whose tenure expired as president of the union on Aug. 28.
Alh. Tajudeen Agbede, National Chairman Caretaker Committee of the NURTW, confirmed the development on Wednesday.
Agbede alleged that Baruwa had committed many atrocities while he served as president of the union from Aug. 2019 to Aug. 2023.
He said Baruwa reduced membership of the union in International Transport Federation (ITF) from 400,000 members to a paltry 160,000 members.
Agbede also alleged that the Baruwa failed to pay affiliation dues as at when due, thus causing the union to be deregistered from ITF.
He added that the dues at one point were owed for as long as 18months (April – December 2021) and January — September 2022.
Agbede said Baruwa also failed to account for Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) moneys paid during his administration for the 2023 general election.
He also noted that during the four years administration of the former president of the union, the National Executive Council (NEC) only held four times.
He said that this was against the constitutional provisions of Article 10 (2) of the union’s constitution.
Agbede also said Baruwa had arbitrarily mandated the posting of union staff without concomitant relocation allowances or transfer claims, among others.
“He failed to abide by constitutional provisions in respect to succession, by refusing and/or neglecting to conduct a credible Zonal Delegates Elections for the continuity of the union.
“Thus putting the union into unnecessary drama before right-thinking members of the public,” Agbede added.