By SIMON EBEGBULEM

THE Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Edo State chapter has described as unconstitutional the move by the 18 local government councils in the state to ban its members from operating in the councils.

The union complained that their members were being intimidated in the course of their duties and reminded that the union was duly registered by Decrees 21 and 22 of 1978 as a trade union to cater for the interest of transporters.

In a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Chief B Okpokunu, it said, “In line with the law, the local government councils are to build and maintain motor parks while the RTEAN who are the owners of vehicles and employers of labour has the responsibility to look after their investment and employees in the motor parks.

“Therefore the local government Councils have no power to prevent RTEAN members from operating in their locality. At this point, it must be made clear that some local government councils have not built motor parks in their domain. A case in point is Oredo Local Government Council which has one motor park at New Benin which at the moment is being occupied by market women.”