The Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, has appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to mandate it to generate revenue for the state government within the Ibadan metropolis as a means of guaranteeing increase in revenue generation for the government.
Mr Kamorudeen Owogesi, RTEAN chief in the state, made the call while speaking with journalists in Ibadan, the state capital, on Saturday.
According to him, Oyo RTEAN is well coordinated with its members present across the local government council areas of the state.
Owogesi said it was the National Union of Road Transport Workers and not the RTEAN that was proscribed by the Oyo State Government.
The RTEAN, he said, was ready to work with the state government in all areas of interests.
“RTEAN has always been known to be a law abiding and peaceful union. We know that Governor Seyi Makinde is a listening governor and will accede to our appeal. In addition, local government administrations have been directed to take full charge of the parks,” he said.
It will be recalled that Justice M. A. Adegbola of the Oyo State High Court had nullified the appointment of the park managers in the state in a ruling.
Governor Makinde -led administration had introduced the park managers system following the proscription of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state.
Delivering the judgement in the case filed by the Chairman of the union, Alhaji Abideen Olajide, also known as Ejiogbe, Justice Adegbola described the appointment of the park managers for rates collection as illegal.
The judgement by Adegbola had read in part, “That the management and control of motor parks is a local government function as provided for under Section 7 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and that such duty and function can only be performed exclusively by the local governments as listed in the 1999 Constitution.
“That parks and management fall exclusively under the powers and confines of local government administration and that the appointment of park managers by the respondents is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void as it contravenes the provisions of Section 7 (5), paragraph 1 (e) of the 4th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“The appointment of park managers and collection of rates by the park managers on behalf of the respondents from the applicants and its members is illegal, unconstitutional and contrary to the spirit and letter of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“That the respondents cannot take over the primary duty of the local government to wit: Park Management and appointments of motor park managers which is exclusively provided for in Section 7 (5) of the 1999 Constitution to be the duty of the local government.
“A declaration that any order and/or pronouncement made by the first, second and third respondents on the 17th February, 2020 with respect to motor park management and appointment of park managers in Oyo State is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void as same violates the provisions of section 7 (5) of the 1999 constitution and paragraph 1 (e) of the 4th schedule to the 1999 constitution.
“An order setting aside the selection and appointment of park managers in all motor parks in Oyo State by the first, second and third respondents on the 17th February, 2020 as same is ultra vires the powers of the respondents.
“Perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, privies or whosoever from interfering with the management and affairs of motor parks in Oyo State and from collecting any rates and dues from any of the parks or commercial drivers in Oyo State.”
