Some bus drivers engaged to convey election materials in Enugu South Local Government Area, on Saturday refused to move, demanding full payment of agreed fares.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the drivers who converged on INEC office at New Gariki, said it would be risky to convey the materials without being paid.
Some of them said based on their experience, once the election is over without getting paid, it would be very difficult to get anyone to pay them.
One of the bus drivers, Michael Agugu, said he would not take the risk of conveying the election materials without payment.
“Although they said that they have given one of our members the money to share to us, but up till now we have not received the money. I am not going to carry any material if I am not paid,” Agugu said.
Another driver, Moses Ugwu said it was not his first time of electoral materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and they usually get paid upfront.
“If they don’t pay us now, nobody will listen to us after the election.
“Once you leave here without your money at hand, consider the money as a forgotten issue.
“I will rather leave the promises with my vehicle than to put water in an empty basket,” Ugwu added.
An INEC official, who pleaded for anonymity, said the issue was due to communication breakdown.
“We have transferred their money to them, but some of them insisted that they must receive alert before they will leave,” he said.
NAN reports that as at 11am, some of the drivers were still adamant, while others have begun conveying the election materials to polling centres.