Some of the commercial drivers who spoke with PUNCH Metro on Thursday said that the amount of money they are compelled to pay daily is becoming intolerable.
A commercial driver simply identified as Chukwuma, voiced his concerns while pleading with the government, to appeal to transport union members to reduce the daily due commercial drivers pay.
Chukwuma said, “The union members are performing their duties. Although, it is very uncomfortable and unbearable. The transport union members are part of our issues but the vehicle inspection officers, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, and the task force also contribute to the extortion.
“In as much you have a yellow bus in Lagos, you should be ready for extortion. It is very annoying but what can we do? I can just advise the government to please reduce the fare that we pay on a daily basis because, at the end of the day, we do not end up with a reasonable amount of money as takeaway.”
Another commercial driver who identified himself as Peter claimed that the money commercial drivers pay to the transport union members is enough to cover the driver’s daily expenses.
Peter said, “There is nothing we can do we can only be careful of all the road officials so that we do not fall victim to their problems. I appeal to the government to help us curb the extortion of the transport union workers because the ticket fee we pay daily is enough to serve as our daily savings.”
In reaction, a Transport Union member, who simply gave his name as Abass, claimed that the union members receive a fair share of the money collected from commercial drivers after the government takes a portion.
“All the drivers that said we extort them are saying rubbish, the government is aware of what we are doing. The money the union collects is also being shared with the government. The government issues paper to us and we buy the paper for six hundred naira so you can imagine how much we have to collect as union members.
“Union only collects money for booking. I am a union member and I operate at Ojuelegba. Here we go for four to five trips, they pay for booking which is one thousand two hundred naira, we also load for five hundred naira. In the end, our gain daily is just eight hundred naira.
“The government has changed the union. We have Lagos Park Union but the government approves of only two union which is road and national union. The government has taken over Lagos and Oyo parks,” Abass said.
When contacted, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Abdulhafiz Toriola, said work is being done to minimise the amount that commercial drivers pay, adding that those caught obtaining money from commercial drivers and commuters illegally will be arrested.
Toriola said, “The government has been working on it. The other illegal officials who are not part of the union and who are not also recognised by the government will be cleared out of the road and the Nigerian police are making efforts towards that.
“We are also working on the union to reduce the dues they collect from their members. Despite the fact that we have challenges concerning the removal of fuel subsidy, we are also trying to talk to them to reduce the money.
“For others, we have released some press releases, for people to inform the government when they see people or groups of people trying to extort them. We advise people to get in touch with the Ministry of Transportation.
“We have released some hotlines they can call. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Vehicle Inspection Officers are meant to ensure the safety of vehicles plying Lagos roads and I am sure they are doing that but the government is trying its best to sensitise people on what is expected from them concerning the road,” Toriola said.
