THE Lagos State Government has warned bus drivers against taking advantage of the strike action embarked upon by members of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association (JDWAN), to raise transport fares, warning that defaulters would face the consequences of their illegal actions.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, said this while responding to the strike action which has now entered its second day, with Lagosians being subjected to untold hardship. Mr Giwa gave the assurance that the State Government is now looking into the demands of JDWAN, with a view to finding solutions to the issues raised by the Association.
The SA on Transportation said the move becomes necessary following the planned seven-day job boycott by the drivers over alleged “harassment and extortion by motor parks and garages management”.
“Sequel to the announcement by JDWAN to embark on a seven-day strike starting from October 31, 2022, the Ministry of Transportation invited its leadership to a meeting on Friday, October 28, 2022, despite its non-affiliation to any of the transport unions known by the State Government, i.e NURTW and RTEAN.
“Most of the union members at the meeting were from the Badagry axis and it was resolved that the meeting be adjourned till Wednesday, November 2, 2022, to have a larger house (the Unions inclusive) and resolve the matter amicably," Giwa said.
The government said that the outcome of the November 2, 2022 meeting will be made known to the public.
Meanwhile, it was a frustrating Monday morning for commuters who reside along the LASU-Isheri, Isheri-Egbeda axis, as they were left stranded in the early hours of the day following the commencement of a seven-day strike embarked upon by the Joint Drivers’ Welfare Association of Nigeria (JDWAN) over “multiple and excessive extortions” by the Parks Management Committee.
In addition to the unavailability of sufficient buses to convey commuters, those who plied the road hiked the fares by almost 100 per cent across various routes within the local government.
READ MORE HERE: COMMUTERS STRANDED IN ALIMOSHO, HIKE IN FARES AS COMMERCIAL DRIVERS BEGIN STRIKE TODAY
