•Commercial motorcyclists a.k.a. Okada riders
The Motorcycle Operators’ Union of Nigeria (MOUN), Lagos Branch, has raised concerns over an alleged subversion of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directives by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, relating to the recognition and certification of the union for operation in the state.
To prevent a potential crisis, the union, through its solicitor, Jiti Ogunye Chambers, has called for immediate intervention from the Lagos State government to restore peace, reports Vanguard.
During a media briefing held at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos, today, Ogunye, alongside MOUN Chairman Taiwo Adetunji, addressed the issue.
Ogunye accused certain officials in the Ministry of Transportation of undermining the governor’s executive authority by collaborating with external interests to seize control of the union.
“We are here to inform you about a present threat to take over the structure of our union in Lagos State by certain interests, who are unfortunately being aided by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation,” Ogunye said.
“We are seeking justice and urging Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to remedy this injustice.”
Ogunye revealed that a petition had been submitted on April 26, 2024, to the governor, requesting official recognition of MOUN as the sole motorcycle operators’ union in Lagos State. The petition was also copied to the state’s Attorney-General and the Commissioner for Transportation.
According to Ogunye, while the governor had granted approval for MOUN’s recognition, certain officials in the Ministry of Transportation had allegedly acted contrary to the governor’s directives by handing over the union’s operations to the Oniba of Iba, Oba Suleiman Adesina Raji Asade, who is linked to another motorcycle riders’ association.
“There is no intra-union dispute in MOUN regarding the recognition accorded to us,” Ogunye clarified. “The Oniba of Iba is not a member of MOUN, and his involvement is an attempt to wrongfully seize control of our union.”
He criticised the ministry’s actions as illegal, unconstitutional, and a clear violation of the rights of MOUN’s members to peaceful assembly and association, as guaranteed under Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution. Ogunye demanded that the officials involved be held accountable for gross misconduct, urging the governor to take disciplinary action against them.
MOUN outlined several demands, including the withdrawal of any letters of recognition wrongly handed to non-members of the union and the proper implementation of the governor’s approval for MOUN’s operations.
They also called for a stakeholders’ meeting to address transitional issues between MOUN and other motorcycle operators’ associations in Lagos State.
As of the time of reporting, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, had not responded to inquiries regarding the matter.
