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Uncertainty and confusion has beclouded the activities of transport unions in Ogun state following the alleged plans by members of the Ogun State House of Assembly to embark on reduction of transport unions, and revenue collectors.
The lawmakers had during sitting passed a resolution proposing to the State Government to limit the number of Revenue Generating Agents/Organizations in the transport industry to a maximum of three per sector.
The lawmakers held that the reduction in the number of existing transport unions would help in streamlining the collection process, saying it would avoid leakages in government revenue.
The Assembly members said there was a need to curb revenue leakages and guard against acts that could cause a breach of peace in the state.
But findings by this reporter revealed that there is possibility for fresh crisis in the Ogun State Transportation sector if the state government go ahead with the recommendation.
Transport unions which consist of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Park Management Services Ltd (PAM), Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Tricycle Owners Riders Association of Nigeria (TORAN), among others may lose the royalty they are getting if the government succeed in its new plan.
Investigation revealed that the transport unions which had members numbering about 40,000 Ogun residents may be face with high unemployment rate.
It was learnt that the Dapo Abiodun-led administration reportedly proliferated the union business hy establishing more transport associations after his emergence.
Many security experts have argued that reducing the number of the unions would lead to high security risk for the state which is reportedly “insecure”.
Adeola Ogundele, noted that reducing the number of transport unions will lead to insecurity across the state.
He said, “it will be unwise for this government to say they want to reduce the number of transport unions.
“They were part of the problem, because they added to the existing one when they came on board.
“If they are reducing it, they are only going to promote robbery and other social vices. It is this job that keep many busy, and now you want to take it away from them. This is going to lead to serious crisis in the state if the government go ahead.”
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