The Real Fear!…Why You Should Not – And Police, State Govt Do Not – Joke With NURTW Members, Especially In Lagos State

Eniola Adeniyi

Away from all the talks of fantastic earnings and usefulness during elections, there is a more vital reason the police and government, especially in Lagos state do not toy with the National Union of Road Transport Workers and its members.

Societynow.ng’s investigation revealed the reason as ‘’security’’.

The information available to societynow.ng revealed that the transport union has become a source of livelihood for the petty thieves and moderate criminals who would have graduated into more serious crimes.

‘’Most of the burglars, pickpockets, bag snatchers and those involved in related crimes are being absorbed in into the NURTW’’ a source stated.

They mostly serve on the field as ticketing agents at different points and bus stops or collectors of protection money here and there societynow.ng learned.

‘’There is money than enough to round in the union and they take a far limited risk to get a share than when they risk their lives (when caught) picking pockets and burgling homes’’ a source stated.

Those who are favored are better placed in the association.

Societynow.ng learned that the ‘’absorbed’’ are prevented from engaging in criminal activities because of the leadership of the Union’s position on its members’ involvement in ‘’crime’’.

‘’Union members who are culprits of crime serve severe punishments not limited to torture and serious beatings before they are handed over to the police if need be’’ societynow.ng learned.

‘’That is why you would have noticed a drastic drop in the crime around Oshodi and related areas in Lagos state’’ a source stated.

The NURTW is increasingly becoming the alternative means of livelihood for all those willing to shunning petty and moderate crimes societynow.ng learned.

‘’That is why whenever the Government announces the suspension of union activities you see the NURTW members collecting their usual tolls from transporters and traders, the alternative is to deny the army of ex-criminals their daily bread..the implication is pretty obvious’’ a source provided insight.

‘’If you notice whenever there is peace within a particular chapter of the union there is always relative peace and drop in the crime rate of the state concerned’’ a source stated.

Insiders disclosed that the fact that the Union serves as a ‘’rehabilitation center’’ for ex-criminals has transformed it into a veritable pool of information for the police.

The leadership of the union work with the police – especially in Lagos – to keep the crime rate down societynow.ng learned.

‘’The chief task of the police is to maintain the peace among the warring faction within the union seeking to claim top spots’’ societynow.ng learned.

Insiders disclosed the revenues amassed by the union members from different points are such that the chairman – who is given autocratic power by its constitution – automatically becomes a billionaire in multiple numbers.

‘’That is why the position is always under threat and the occupier constantly fighting moves to unseat him’’ societynow.ng learned.

Societynow.ng gathered that outside of this internal struggle over who becomes the chairman amongst the leaders, those who make up the rank and file are extremely loyal to whatever cause the association undertakes.

‘’That is why the politicians find the union very useful during campaigns and elections’’ a source stated.

‘’The numbers and the willingness of the members to serve the cause of the association are the factors that have transformed the union members into a formidable force for the politicians and their leaders the darling of political office holders’’’ societynow.ng learned.

The politicians control the government and this automatically gives the union members political backing, add this to the subtle legitimacy they enjoy working with the police in keeping crime down and you have a fair idea of how important the transport unionists, especially the NURTW in Lagos are in the scheme of things a source pointed out.