NURTW Returns In Oyo State after 7years Ban

With the Attorney General now on record before the Court of Appeal that government is not preventing NURTW from operating, we expect full compliance without further delay, victimization or harassment of our members at motor parks,”_

The Oyo state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, has announced plans to resume full operations across motor parks in the state, citing a Certified True Copy of a Court of Appeal judgment that nullified the state government’s suspension order.

In a statement issued monday and signed by state chairman, Alhaji Abideen Abimbola Olajide (Ejiogbe), and secretary, Comrade Lekan Alesinloye, the union said the coast was clear for its members to return to duty without further delay or harassment.

According to the statement, the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, delivered a unanimous judgment on September 26, 2025, in Appeal No: CA/IB/263/2022 between NURTW and the Governor of Oyo state; Attorney General of Oyo state; Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transportation; and Commissioner of Police, Oyo state, as respondents.

Delivering judgment, Justice Kenneth Amadi held: “The respondents failed to justify the suspension of the activities of the Appellant based on the ground of breach of peace, law and order in Oyo state caused by the Appellant. I allow this appeal, set aside the suspension on the operations of the Appellant in Oyo state. I also set aside the judgment of the lower court. The judgment is entered accordingly.”

The CTC of the judgment, obtained by the union from the Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, and dated October 3, 2025, was attached to the statement. The NURTW had appealed against the March 23, 2022 judgment of the National Industrial Court, Ibadan, presided over by Justice Opeloye Ogunbowale, which upheld the government’s suspension of the union’s activities.

The union said it was encouraged by the position of the state government as expressed in a Notice of Preliminary Objection dated April 23, 2026, filed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Abiodun Aikomo.

In the application, the Attorney General stated that “the 2nd respondent has not done anything whatsoever to prevent the NURTW, the Appellant herein, from its operations in Oyo state” and that “there is no specific order made against the 2nd respondent which the 2nd respondent refuses or neglects to comply with.” Similar averments were made for the Commissioner for Transportation.

“With the Attorney General now on record before the Court of Appeal that government is not preventing NURTW from operating, we expect full compliance without further delay, victimization or harassment of our members at motor parks,” the statement said.

The union called on the state government and security agencies to ensure its members are allowed to resume duties peacefully in line with the judgment, warning that any interference would amount to contempt of court.

“We have been out of our legitimate duties for seven years. The court has spoken. The government itself has told the court it is not preventing us. Drivers and operators should expect their union back in motor parks immediately,” Olajide and Alesinloye added.