The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has announced the removal of its General Secretary, Ibrahim Ayoade, from office for gross violation of the union’s constitution and disregard for office responsibility.
His removal was announced yesterday after an emergency meeting, anchored by the National President, Comrade Damola Adeniran in Abuja, following the decisions of the Disciplinary Committee and the Central Working Committee.
Before arriving at the decision, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Comrade Samuel Orji, provided a background on the petition against the general secretary.
During his presentation, he elaborated on the proper and due process followed to ensure a fair hearing was provided to the general secretary.
The most condemnable, according to some members, is the former general secretary’s voice record proclaiming fractionalisation of the union, nominating and declaring the deputy president as acting president while the substantive president was never unseated.
This, to members of the council, is worrisome and the height of desperation evidenced in the report of investigation conducted by the disciplinary committee, suggesting that the claim laid against the National President,Adeniran was politically motivated to achieve a predetermined goal, as well as an attempt to instigate scenarios and insinuations that would warrant the removal of the substantive president from office to replace him with the current Deputy President, Comrade David Nosa, who happens to be the general secretary’s strong ally.
Orji said:”We have on numerous occasions in the past explored the options of dialogue, engagement, and mediation facilitated by both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Federal Ministry of Labour. These previous attempts led to the development of the guidelines and principles, which all the members of the Central Working Committee signed.
“We noted the situation which brought us to the point of mediation and dialogue to resolve the memorandum of understanding in the first place was the arbitrary disregard of the union’s constitution by the general secretary.
“It was imperative for the National Executive Council to enforce the constitution of the union as the substantive law and the Federal Ministry of Labour’smemorandum of understanding as procedural law, so that the union truly achievesunionisation.”
Tomaintain unity and prevent misrepresentation of the union, a motion and resolution against anti-union practices, activities, and submission or handing over of the union properties, materials, and records by the former general secretary was adopted.
Confirming the development in a statement signed by the union’s Chairman, Media, and Publicity, JossyOlawaleAdaraniwon, members of the National Executive Council found Ayoade unfit for the office of general secretary, thereby risking collapse of the union.
They called for an immediate appointment of a viable general secretary for the union and removal of his imposed sibling, IbraheemSoladoye at the southwest council for not having a verifiable history as an App-Based Transporter as constitutionally required.
The union warned members, members of the public, international organisations, partners, platforms, government agencies, and the ministry against any dealings with Ayoade on behalf of AUATON. The president reassured the union’s unwavering commitment towards the overall welfare of members, urging members to register on the union’s website.
