Offa/Erin-Ile crisis: Kwara proscribes drivers’ unions

The Kwara State Government on Thursday announced the proscription of Offa and Erin-Ile branches of the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria.
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, announced this while addressing newsmen at the end of the State Executive Council meeting.
The SSG said the council deliberated on the report of the White Paper of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the Offa and Erin-Ile crisis and decided to ban the two unions.
According to the SSG, the white paper implicated the Offa and Erin-Ile branches of NURTW AND RTEAN as the immediate cause of the crisis between both communities due to their intransigence.
“The proscription will remain in effect until the unions demonstrate that they have imbibed the spirit of co-operation and peaceful co-existence,” Gold added.
He said government had directed that Ajegunle Motor Park Offa and Idi-Agba Motor Park Erin-Ile were unauthorised and should be closed down.
The SSG added that the council took the decision to close down the motor parks because the report identified them as major sources of recurring rancors between the two communities.
“Government directed the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to ensure that motor parks which comply with the statutory distance of 5 kilometres between them are restored,” the SSG said.
The council, according to the SSG, directs the Elerin of Erin and Olofa of Offa to enter into covenant of peaceful co-existence between the two communities.
The state government also appealed to the communities to accept the Unity Road it created as a buffer zone in the interest of peace and harmonious co-existence.
The council enjoined the communities to imbibe the spirit of give and take and cooperation, considering that land was a natural endowment from God.
Gold said the caretaker committees in the two local governments were given another three months tenure at the expiration of their initial three months term.
According to him, as soon as government is convinced that peace is fully restored, the elected chairmen and other political appointees will be restored.
Gold said the council approved the rehabilitation of the 61.35 kilometres Kiama-kisi Road in their lots.
He said the first lot, Kiama-Tesse Road, was awarded to Construction Products Nigeria Limited at N3.7 billion.
He added that the Tesse-Moshe Road was awarded to CGC Nigeria Limited at N2.3 billion while the Moshe-Kisi Road was awarded to Bal Engineering Limited at N1.9 billion.