DRIVERS’ WELFARE ASSOCIATION IN RIVERS DECLARE STAY AT HOME OVER INCESSANT HARASSMENT BY TASKFORCE

By Emeka AMAEFULA

Thursday 17th of October, 2019 witnessed the non-violent stay at Home industrial strike by Rivers state chapter of Drivers’ Welfare Association. www.towncrier.ng reporter that covered the industrial strike which was successful in terms of compliant by the drivers across major routes in the City of Port Harcourt was informed that it was due to activities of the Taskforce monitoring illegal Motor parks, Markets and road congestion in Rivers state recently set up by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. The Bus drivers alleged that members of the Taskforce had engaged in arresting most of the members for not obeying use of designated Bus Stops with stoppage marks. A situation they denied as being trumped up by the taskforce Team just to extort money from them. One of the drivers who spoke under anonymity said “How can we continue this way when some of our members are being put in Prison for faults that are not theirs. If you drop passengers at designate bus stops these Taskforce members will jump into your Bus and take you to their garage where you are required to pay money to them. If you fail to pay they will take you to Port Harcourt Maximum Prison and you will still pay money to get your bus released from their custody.”

Along Ikwerre road Mile 1 to Mile 3 Nkpolu-Orowurokwo in Port Harcourt City center a busy transport route leading to Rumuokoro axis in Obio/Akpor local Government area it was total compliance by the Drivers’ Welfa re association as commuters were seen trekking long distances in droves both school children and workers. Buses heading to Borokiri Port Harcourt Town route ad hoc private saloon car owners were at the rescue conveying passengers at minimum cost. Majority of hustlers engaged into this activity to make ends meet financially.

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When www.towncrier.ng reporter visited NURTW Nkpolu-Orowurokwo Mile 3 Motor Park for observation of the industrial strike, Mr. Cyril C. Amadi the branch Secretary NURTW Nkpolu Orowurokwo Mile 3 Park said that “the strike is illegal, why I said so is that as a Trade unionist if you are fighting for good condition of your services you give notices once, twice and thrice if there is no response you will still give ultimatum that within so and so period if something did not happen that you will take action. And when you take action you will quote your previous communications accompanied with a letter to various organs concerned. That is what we do”.

He continued “I as Secretary of the Union there is no formal letter given to me either they will have meeting or that they will embark on strike”.