Osun State chapter of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Friday took on Governor Ademola Adeleke for suspending the operations of the National Union of Roads and Transport Workers (NURTW).

There had been factional crisis between transport unions in the state during the week as suspected thugs backed by gunmen took over motor parks in Osogbo, Ilesa, Ife and major townships.

In a bid to avert chaos and violence, Adeleke had after an emergency State Security Council meeting, on Thursday announced the suspension of NURTW activities through his Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi.

However, a press statement by a ALGON chairman, Samuel Idowu Abiodun, warned Adeleke against what it described as unconstitutional interference in the administration of public motor parks across the state, noting that such actions could undermine the rule of law and reignite tension.

The association maintained that, under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the establishment, control, maintenance and regulation of public motor parks are the exclusive constitutional responsibilities of local government councils.

ALGON further contended that the governor lacks the legal authority to suspend the activities of transport unions or assume control over the management of motor parks.

The statement reads, “we describe Adeleke’s reported directive suspending the activities of NURTW as unconstitutional, null and void, urging security agencies to act strictly in accordance with the law.

“The governor’s statement only reinforces our position that the state government was either unwilling or unable to respond appropriately to the crisis. It is instructive that the Governor remained silent from Monday, July 20, 2026, when the crisis began, until Thursday, after ALGON had met with transport union leaders and announced the decision of branch and unit chairmen to constitute Caretaker Management Committees for the various unions.

“We are compelled to question whether the Governor sought proper legal advice before issuing the directive. Paragraph 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly assigns the responsibility for public motor parks to local governments.

“We have engaged all transport unions, and they have accepted the newly constituted Caretaker Management Committees. We call on security agencies to continue safeguarding peace in the motor parks while urging the caretaker committees, under the leadership of Kazeem Oyewale and others, to sustain the current peace and ensure law and order across the state.”