COMTUA writes Oyo gov over agency's order to pay fine to a private coy

Committee of Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA) has sent a letter of protest to the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, over the bill of N850,000 given to one of its member to pay by the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority.

The member was told to pay the bill to the account of Reliable Auto Services, a private company.

The association wondered why a government agency would generate a bill in favour of a private account instead of the agency's account or state government's account.

COMTUA also complained about the uncouth manner and arrogance of the chairman of the agency.

In the letter written to the governor and signed by the President of the association, Comrade Adeyinka Aroyewun, the body began by expressing gratitude of to the governor on the removal of its member's container that blocked the road around Challenge in Ibadan, adding that it is a further prove of the governor's administration's promptness to resolve issues around safety of lives and properties.

The association regretted any embarrassment the accident that resulted in the abandonment of the container on the side of the road might have caused the government and good people of the state.

However, the association claimed it responded promptly to the accident by visiting the scene to ensure safety of lives and property, joining agencies of government, mainly Police and FRSC and paying equipment operators ( crane, Hiab loader and towing van) to remove the truck and container from the road.

"We could not completely evacuate the container due to equipment scarcity within the state.

The DPO of Felele Police Station and the Unit Commander of the FRSC, Toll gate Unit, Lagos-Ibadan express road, were professional in their conducts by ensuring that lives and properties were properly protected.

"The container would NOT have stayed beyond the same day but for logistics challenges," the association stated.

It pleaded with his excellency to consider the release of the said truck and container; which is currently in the custody of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority.

COMTUA stated that the letter became necessary after approaching the agency which gave "a bill of Eight hundred and fifty Thousand Naira (#850,000), payable to a Zenith Bank Account Number 1016751601, whose beneficiary is RELIABLE AUTO SERVICES instead of the Agency or State government account."

According to COMTUA, the attitude of asking to pay to a private account gave it concern made it to send a delegation led by the President of the association to meet with the Chairman.

Part of the letter stated as follows: "Our purpose of the visit was to express our gratitude and solidarity to the government of Oyo State through the agency, plead for a waiver on the said fine and seek clarification on the account.

"We were disturbed by the level of misrepresentation of your government the chairman demonstrated.

"Apart from being unprofessional, he did not hide his inferriority complex towards LASTMA, when he realised we came from Lagos.

"This was noted without stress when he kept referring to the agency in every of his statement, comparing structures and operation mode instead of addressing the issue.

"We were humiliated in the presence of his female friends in the office.

"We were threatened to be beaten by hoodlums and he eventually abandoned our delegation to play Table Tennis within the complex.

"We were abandoned for several hours before we left the premises without achieving any meaningful results.

"He was extreme boastful and willing to take laws into his hands simply because he claim to report directly to the governor.

"He advised us to go to court and emphasised his influence on the judiciary."

The association prayed that Governor Makinde look into its appeal and also consider calling the concerned officer to order in the interest of the image of his administration.

It remarked that such character like the chairman does not fit the respect and popularity the governor's administration commands.