By Ozioruva Aliu
BENIN CITY—THERE has been blackout in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states as electricity workers under the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, shut down facilities of the BEDC Electricity Plc over emoluments and welfare packages.
At the Benin headquarters of the company, NUEE officials blocked staff from entering the premises as they shut down vital operational facilities that have led to blackout since the early hours of yesterday.
Many of the workers had to close early from their offices while management was said to be meeting with the leadership of NUEE at press time.
A senior staff of the company told Vanguard in confidence, that “We are surprised at their action, some of them even harassed some of our staff trying to record their actions. The current management recently reviewed their emoluments, I am surprised that they shut down facilities of the company.”
Several calls to the Edo State Chairman of NUEE, Williams Uwumarogie were not picked.
But the acting State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Bernard Egwakide said the union had earlier intervened in the labour dispute “But right now, the leadership of NUEE is in a meeting with the management of the company, let us see how far they can resolve it, that will determine if we will intervene.”
Akure -There was tension in Akure, Ondo State, as commercial motorcycle riders, comonly called Okada and ticket sellers engaged in a violent confrontation over alleged multiple levies.
It was gathered that the clash broke out in several locations within the metropolis when Okada operators resisted attempts by revenue collectors to enforce payment of what they described as fresh levies, despite having paid similar charges earlier.
The riders alleged that they were being compelled to pay N7,000 for an emblem purportedly introduced by the Akure South Local Government Area of the state.
They accused the council chairman, Mr. Gbenga Fasua, of authorising the collection, a claim the chairman has denied.
The protest crippled Okada operations in parts of Akure, as many riders abandoned their routes to join colleagues to resist the levy.
Narrating his ordeal, a rider, Jimoh Akindele, said enforcement agents have been stationed at strategic points across the city to force riders to pay.
He said: “What they are doing is double taxation. How can Fasua be selling emblem for riders in Akure South for N7,000? They send boys to different locations to collect money from us. We were told the money is for Akure South Local Government and not for the state government. The state government is not even aware. We cannot continue like this. Enough is enough.”
Another operator who gave his name as Adekunle said the riders were not opposed to paying legitimate government revenue, but lamented what he called lack of transparency and repeated demands for the same purpose.
According to him, riders said: “We pay in the morning and another person will come later to demand another ticket. When we ask, they will say it is for Akure South council. No satisfactory explanation.
“Fasua is even using the local security outfit he created, Tiger Base, to harass and terrorise Okada riders in Akure. This is wrong,” he alleged.
He appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene urgently to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Responding to the allegations, the council Chairman, Fasua, said neither he nor the local government authorised the sale of the emblem in question.
He said no money from the said collection has ever been remitted to the council.
Fasua explained that he first learned of the issue when he encountered a group of protesting riders in front of the Government Office.
He said the riders informed him that they had already obtained stickers earlier in the year, including one during the Ogun Festival, but were now being asked to purchase another one, which would be the third within the year.
“I told them to hold on with these sales. Let’s get clarity from Mr. Governor. I went to about two other spots and told them to suspend the sales until we get clarity from the governor.
“I am the representative of the people of Akure. I was voted for and I am their voice. That was why I said, let me speak with the governor about it,” Fasua said.
The chairman noted that although the name of Akure South was written on the emblem, it does not mean it emanated from the council.
Fasua urged all parties to maintain peace and shun any act capable of truncating the relative peace being enjoyed in Akure.
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