In November 2022, commercial transport workers in Lagos State organized a seven-day strike under the aegis of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria (JDWAN) to protest against the multiple levies and extortion by members of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Management. However, several months after the strike, the situation remains the same, and drivers continue to pay multiple levies, which are then passed on to the passengers.
According to the Punch Metro, some of the drivers have lamented that the management of garages in the city is still adamant about collecting multiple levies, and if drivers refuse to pay, their vehicles would not be allowed to pick up passengers. This has led to a sharp increase in fares, causing passengers to bear the brunt of the multiple levies.
One of the drivers, Adewale Oluwafemi, who plies Oshodi and Sango routes, stated that he still pays about 10 to 15 levies from Oshodi, where he picks up passengers. He said that the strike achieved nothing for many commercial drivers because they still pay as much as N200 at some bus stops when passengers disembark or board their vehicles.
Similarly, Wasiu Gbadamosi, another driver, narrated his ordeal in the hands of officials of park and garages management at Iyana Ipaja over multiple fees in the garage. He said that his bus was stopped from picking up passengers because he refused to pay some levies. This has made the daily operations of transport workers very difficult and frustrating.
In a telephone conversation with Punch Metro, the national leader of the JDWAN, Abiodun Akintade, alleged that park managers and their hirelings have become more emboldened due to the government’s passive interests in the welfare of the drivers. He said that the Lagos State Government had promised to call them for a meeting over the matter, but they are yet to do so. The situation has gotten worse, as park managers have seen that the government officials are not taking the matter as seriously as they should be.
Furthermore, the chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Management, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly called MC Oluomo, did not respond to the message sent to him by Punch Metro when they attempted to get his reaction on the matter.
In conclusion, it is imperative for the Lagos State Government to intervene in the matter and ensure that commercial transport workers are not subjected to multiple levies and extortion. This would help to improve the welfare of the drivers and reduce the financial burden on the passengers.
Content created and supplied by: Muholanur (via Opera News )
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