Chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages (LASPG), Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo), has announced that transporters in the state will not be joining the August 2 strike called by the organised labour.
Rather, Akinsanya announced on Tuesday at a meeting with transport union leaders and operators, relief measures for commercial bus drivers and passengers to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
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He said the tickets sold to drivers at parks for N800 would now be N600 and all bookings would be reduced by 25 per cent.
For passengers, Akinsanya said routes which used to attract N500 transport fare would now be charged at N300 while commuters previously paying N200 would now pay N150.
He added that commercial motorcycle (okada) and tricycle (Keke Marwa) operators would enjoy 25 per cent reduction on the tickets bought from the union.
He announced that a task force has been put in place to monitor the implementation of the directive.
The LASPG chairman urged various parks and garages’ executives to ensure compliance, warning that sanctions would be meted out to defaulters.
The task force will be led by all members of state executives, parks’ chairmen and selected union leaders.
He said that agency would do everything in its power not to inconvenient the masses.
He said the directive was a follow-up to an earlier announcement by the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on bus fare reduction.
Akinsanya said about 50,000 members of the agency would not be joining Nigeria Labour Congress’ (NLC) planned protest on Wednesday.
He said: “We, the state executives and the entire members of the Lagos State Parks and Garages met today (Tuesday) in Lagos to review the situation in the country, particularly in Lagos, following the oil subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
“After much deliberations and review, we discussed the high costs of foods, transport fares and other areas of public interest, in particular the plan by the organised labour, i.e., the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to call workers out on a strike.
“After a careful discussion, we concluded that we will not be part of any strike or protest rally being planned to draw the Federal Government’s attention to the issue being debated in the country. All transport families and members will be at work to convey people to their various destinations without problem because the Lagos State government has announced some interventions in the sector.
“The Lagos State government has provided a conducive atmosphere for our operation. There is, therefore, no reason for us to join any strike that may threaten the peace of the state. The various palliative measures taken by the state government, especially the 50 per cent reduction of government public transports and a downward review of our yellow buses fares will also go a long way in cushioning the effect of the subsidy removal.
“We have also embarked on internal measures like downward reviews of Lagos State government and union tickets. With this, there will be a reduction in transport fares by commercial drivers.
“We at the Lagos State Parks and Garages, therefore, unequivocally say no to any form of strike or protest by the organised labour or any group. All our members are enjoined to go by their normal duties without any fear or intimidation.”
