How Sharing Of Lagos Tricycle Operators Revenue Is Fueling Transport Bosses MC Olumo, Baruwa’s Fight

SocietyNow.Ng gathered that at the heart of the raging fight between the state chairman of the National Union of the Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Ibikunle Baruwa, the National President of the association is the mega revenue from tricycle operators in Lagos.

The money runs into millions of Naira weekly according to those in the know.

The National President of the NURTW wants better access in a move that sidelines the state chairman and the latter is having none of it.

SocietyNow.Ng gathered that the formal arrangement is that the tricycle operators operating under the association known as TOOAN (Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria) remits revenues to the state chairman and he sends a percentage to the national president.

“But Baruwa who is the national president wants to take TOOAN’s operations out of the control of the Lagos state chairman of the NURTW and have better access to the astounding revenue. Baruwa appointed a state chairman for TOOAN in a direct move that undermines the power MC Oluomo as the Lagos state chairman of the NURTW” SocietyNow.Ng gathered.

Istijabah – real name Abdul Azeez Abiola – one of the five zonal coordinators appointed by tricycle operators in Lagos by MC Oluomo was named State chairman for TOOAN by Baruwa

The information at hand revealed that MC Oluomo whose real name is Musiliu Akinsanya, changed the framework for the collection of revenues from tricycle operators after he was appointed as state chairman.

MC Oluomo divided the operations of tricycle operators who are known as TOOAN (Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria) into five zones and appointed Zonal Coordinators for each.

Each zone has a set of executives and related structures down to units in a move that empowers more NURTW members.

“This is a radical departure from the norm. Past NURTW state chairmen maintained only a set of executive and have more direct access to the funds ” SocietyNow.Ng gathered.

It is this new framework that Baruwa wants to collapse in the bid to have control of TOOAN in Lagos state by appointing Instijabah as State Chairman for the tricycle operators.

SocietyNow.Ng gathered that MC Oluomo who is kicking against the move has secured the support of the other four coordinators – and other top stakeholders in the Lagos NURTW – who insist the move by Baruwa is an aberration.

“Aside from this, it is clear that they stand a better chance in remaining relevant and enjoying a better life sticking with Oluomo than Baruwa” SocietyNow.Ng gathered.