Transport: FG Inaugurates Committee To Disburse N10bn Palliative For Operators
The federal government has constituted a committee to draw up modalities for the disbursement of the N10 billion palliative fund for road transport operators and workers.
The Minister of state for transportation, Gbemi Saraki made the disclosure on Thursday when the immediate past National President and the incumbent National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Najumdeen Yasin, and Prof. Tajudeen Ibikunle Lawal respectively, paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Saraki said the members of the committee were drawn from the Ministry of Transportation and all other relevant stakeholders in the transportation sector.
She urged the unions to interface, with a view to having one recognized body that the Ministry could deal with, especially in the disbursement of the intervention fund.
While congratulating the new President of NURTW on his election, she pointed out that the tasks before him is daunting but not insurmountable and urged him to continue to steer the affairs of the union in the right direction.
The commended them for their perseverance during the lockdown despite the fact that their livelihood was disrupted by safety protocols put in place by government to curb the spread of the pandemic.
She further appreciated the fact that the sector has continued to thrive through sheer efforts on the part of members, adding that government is now positioned to improving the conditions of service since over 90% of Nigerians travel by road.
Earlier in his remarks, the former President, Najumdeen Yasin, said that the purpose of their visit was to officially present to her the new National President of the Union as well advise her to disregard the numerous associations posing as representatives of road transport workers and operators.
Yasin, in a statement signed by the Director of public relation of the ministry, Eric Ojirkwe added that the NURTW which has existed for 21 years is the only recognized representative of road transport workers and the Ministry should do well to work with it.
The new National President, Prof. Tajudeen Ibikunle Lawal, while thanking the Minister of State for granting them audience stated that NURTW members suffered directly and indirectly during the pandemic and prayed that the Ministry concedes a larger portion of the palliative to its members.
