The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has upheld Tajudeen Baruwa as the rightful President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for a second term, while also disbanding the Tajudeen Agbede-led caretaker committee.
Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi delivered the judgment, affirming Baruwa’s legitimacy as the elected leader of the union. The court further restrained Najeem Yasin, the former president and chairman of the board of trustees, from interfering in the union’s daily operations.
The ruling underscores the validity of the zonal delegates’ conference held on May 24, 2023, where Baruwa secured his reelection. Additionally, the quadrennial national delegate conference held on August 23, 2023, which saw the inauguration of Baruwa and other national officers, was deemed legitimate by the court.
Contrarily, the national delegates’ conference held on October 25, 2023, which purportedly led to the emergence of Alhaji Isa Ore as Acting President and his administrative council, was declared illegal, null, and void.
The court dismissed claims of a crisis within the union, ruling out the need for a caretaker committee. This decision marks a significant victory for Baruwa, who faced challenges following a violent takeover of the union’s secretariat by the Lagos State Park Management Committee in August 2023.
Baruwa, alongside other national officers, was arrested in September 2023, prompting the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to issue a 48-hour ultimatum for the police to vacate the union’s secretariat or face a shutdown. The NLC, in a statement, commended the court’s ruling, emphasizing the importance of judicial independence and justice.
While acknowledging the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s failure to address the issue, the NLC hailed the National Industrial Court for its impartiality and commitment to upholding the rule of law.
