🔥 Trending Osun State Governor Suspends NURTW Activities, Sparks Controversy

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Osun State is currently embroiled in a significant dispute with the state government, leading to a suspension of its activities and a subsequent defiance by the union's national leadership.

Osun State Government's Stance

On July 23, 2026, the Osun State Government, led by Governor Ademola Adeleke, ordered the immediate suspension of all NURTW activities across motor parks in the state ³⁷¹⁰. The government clarified that this action was a suspension of activities, not a dissolution of the union's leadership, and was taken to restore peace ¹². The Security Council cited the need to address ongoing disputes and maintain order within public transportation ².

Following this suspension, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State chapter, appointed caretaker management committees to oversee the affairs of transport unions in the state ³⁸¹⁰. The government also issued an order for the arrest of any illegal officials found operating in defiance of the suspension ⁷¹⁰.

NURTW's Reaction and Defiance

The national leadership of the NURTW has rejected the Osun State Government's suspension order ⁵. On July 24, 2026, the union inaugurated a seven-man caretaker committee to manage parks and garages in Osun State ⁴⁹. This committee is led by Mr. Kazeem Oyewale, also known as Asiri Eniba ⁴⁹.

Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, the national president of the NURTW, publicly stated that no state governor possesses the constitutional power to suspend the activities of the union ⁶⁹. He cited previous court rulings that, according to him, affirm the union's autonomy from state government interference ⁹. MC Oluomo made these remarks in Abuja during the inauguration of the Osun caretaker committee ⁹.

Key Points of Contention

• Suspension vs. Dissolution: The Osun State Government insists it has only suspended the activities of the NURTW, not dissolved its leadership ¹².
• Authority to Suspend: The NURTW's national leadership argues that state governors lack the constitutional authority to suspend the union's operations ⁶⁹.
• Caretaker Committees: Both the Osun State ALGON and the national NURTW have appointed separate caretaker committees, leading to a potential conflict over who controls the motor parks ³⁴⁸.

This situation indicates a power struggle between the state government and the national body of the NURTW over the control and regulation of transport activities in Osun State.