Edo RTEAN flays ban

By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN-Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, Edo State chapter, has described the attempt by the 18 local governments in the state to ban its members from operating as unconstitutional.

The union complained that their members were being intimidated and harassed in the course of performing their duties, despite the fact that the union was duly registered to cater for the interest of transporters.

RTEAN, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Chief B. Okpokunu, said: “In line with the law, the local governments are to build and maintain motorparks while RTEAN members, who own the vehicles and are employers of labour, have the responsibility to look after their investment and employees in the motorparks.

“The local governments have no power to prevent RTEAN members from operating in their locality.

“It must be made clear that some councils have not built motorparks in their domain. A case in point is Oredo Council which has one motorpark at New Benin. At the moment the park is being occupied by market women.”