Sylvester Idowu in Warri 

The Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria (MOUN) and the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) have accused the Nigeria Police Force of intimidation, harassment, and unlawful obstruction in the collection of their statutory check-off dues in Delta State.

The two unions made the allegation, over the weekend at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Warri. 

Speaking on behalf of the unions, the Deputy National President of MOUN, Comrade Julius Bobi, and the State Deputy Chairman of TOAN, Famous Ogbe Foghola, lamented that police operatives have continued to arrest, harass and prevent their members from carrying out their lawful duties in the state.

They emphasized that both MOUN and TOAN are legally registered and recognized trade unions, with MOUN affiliated to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and TOAN affiliated to the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

They insisted that as legitimate unions backed by law, they are entitled to collect check-off dues from their members without interference.

According to them, many of their members have been unlawfully arrested and prosecuted by the police while simply carrying out these legitimate duties.

Speaking further, TOAN Deputy Chairman Foghola alleged that the Chairman of Ndokwa West Local Government Area, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOADS), Chief Goddy Obi Nzete, has been using his influence to manipulate local government chairmen across the state.

He accused Nzete of colluding with some council chairmen—particularly those of Udu LGA, Chief Vincent Oyibode, and Ughelli North LGA—to use the police to arbitrarily arrest MOUN and TOAN members and compel them to buy COMTOADS tickets daily on the road, despite COMTOADS, according to him, not being recognized by law.

Foghola further alleged that, as part of the arrangement, council chairmen receive ₦300,000 monthly, while their personal assistants allegedly collect ₦150,000 monthly from the proceeds of the tickets.

“The Ndokwa West Local Government Chairman, who is also the Chairman of COMTOADS, now influences all the local government chairmen in the state. He allegedly puts them on a monthly salary of ₦300,000 every month”, he said.

The unions therefore called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Delta State Commissioner of Police to caution officers involved in the alleged misconduct.

They also appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to urgently intervene to allow the unions operate lawfully and collect the dues rightly belonging to them.

While urging their members to remain calm and law-abiding, they encouraged them to remain resolute and resist any form of intimidation pressuring them to purchase COMTOADS tickets.

They also used the opportunity to express appreciation to Governor Oborevwori for supporting union activities and for his developmental strides in the state, pledging their continued support toward the success of his administration and his second-term bid in 2027.

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