…may return to court as govt re-appoints managers
SOJI AJIBOLA, IBADAN
National Union of Road Transport Workers has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State of misinterpreting the judgment of the State High Court on the operation of the park managers.
The court had in its ruling declared the appointment of Mukaila Lamidi-led Park Managers by Governor Makinde as illegal and unconstitutional with reference to relevant portions of the constitution.
The court accused the State government of usurping the function of the local government, which Governor Makinde, at a public function last week admitted.
However, in a dramatic twist, the government under another guise has reappointed the same set of park managers but now to function under local government administration.
Oyo State Government, on Monday, handed over the running of parks and their management to the administration of local government in the state.
A brief event held at the office of state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Bayo Lawal, saw local government chairmen issue letters of appointment to park managers.
Chairman, Parks Disciplinary Committee, Mukaila Lamidi, also called Auxiliary, led the park managers to receive letters of appointment from their new employees.
Speaking on behalf of chairmen of local government areas in the state, during the handover ceremony, Caretaker Chairman, Ibadan South West Local Government, Kehinde Akande, said the council chairmen had formally engaged the park managers under their respective local governments.
He said the local government had given the park managers the authorisation and appointment letters to back up their operations.
Akande said the park managers had remained peaceful, hence their engagement, urging them to remain peaceful in their activities.
Speaking, Chairman, Park Managers Disciplinary Committee, Mr Mukaila Lamidi, affirmed that the park managers had received letters as being appointed by local government areas.
He said letters of their being appointed by the state government had been withdrawn while they are now under the employ of the various local government administration
Lamidi deplored reports of park managers instigating violence around the motor parks, stating that his members remained peaceful.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the NURTW has appealed to its members to remain calm, as it is now deliberating on the next line of action.