LAGOS, NIGERIA — The leadership crisis within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has reached a critical juncture, as legally recognized president Ibikunle Barua Babaleye calls on President Bola Tinubu to enforce court judgments affirming his leadership. Speaking on ARISE News, Babaleye detailed the conflict, which commenced in 2023 following attempts by a faction to install a new leader in violation of NURTW’s constitution.
Babaleye recounted how, despite the National Industrial Court’s validation of his election and nullification of the faction’s actions, he has encountered numerous hurdles in taking office. He described violent confrontations and acts of intimidation, including his forced removal from union premises and a reported fatality.
Despite several court orders, Babaleye noted the Nigerian police and other security agencies’failure to execute the judgments, attributing the delays to procedural justifications. He criticized the lack of response from key government offices to his appeals for enforcement of the court rulings.
Babaleye accused political interference and suggested that the non — execution of the court judgment was due to offending powerful individuals. He warned of potential parallel elections, conflict, and instability in future NURTW elections if the dispute is not resolved amicably.
In a call for decisive action, Babaleye emphasized the need for the presidency to respect legal pronouncements to prevent further disorder. He views the NURTW crisis as a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law, warning that the executive’s refusal to enforce court judgments sets a perilous precedent.
Source: arise
