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Taxi and bus drivers under the aegis of the National Union of Road Transport Workers( NURTW) in Iseyin, Kajola, Itesiwaju and Iwajowa Local Government Areas of Oyo state have commenced an indefinite strike in protest against the deplorable condition of roads in the zone, especially the Oyo- Iseyin and Ibadan – Iseyin roads.
According to reports, the road workers commenced the strike action on Monday, saying they can no longer bear the pains of the daily damage and economic loss the terrible state of the roads was causing to their vehicles.
The ongoing strike action has since paralysed socio – economic activities in the zone.
The chairmen of NURTW, Oyo Zone 2, Iseyin unit, Mr. Tajudeen Ipadeola and Owode park unit ,Oyo East, Mr. Ismail Oluaye, said the strike action was meant to draw the attention of the government to the plight of the drivers and the people.
According to them , many of their members have gone bankrupt and have been forced out of business due to the bad roads .
They called on the state government to urgently begin to fix the roads to alleviate the suffering of the masses and ensure easy movement of goods and services in the area.
Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency, Hon. Shina Abiola Peller, has appealed to the aggrieved road workers to call off the strike, assuring them that action is being taken to ensure the roads are adequately repaired.
In a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Kola Popoola, Peller expressed his dismay on the hardship the deplorable state of roads have continuously subjected the people of the area to, adding that he would do everything within his power to ensure the roads are fixed as soon as possible.
“The deplorable state of Iseyin/Oyo road and Iseyin/Ibadan road is very disheartening to me. I pass through these roads very often, and I also feel the pains that my people go through daily plying the roads.
“I have been making efforts through my office to draw prompt attention of the government towards fixing the roads and I’m very sure that these efforts will yield positive results soon,”the lawmaker said.
He further stated that he appealed to the NURTW chairmen of Oyo Zone 2, Iseyin unit, Ipadeola and Owode park unit ,Oyo East, Oluaye, to reconsider the strike action in the interest of the masses.
“Consequently, Hon. Peller’s appeal to the striking road workers had moved the two unit chairmen of the NURTW to pay a visit to the lawmaker yesterday and the delegates of the NURTW (Iseyin Branch) had fruitful discussion with him .
“The delegates, led by the overall chairman of the four units in Iseyin, Mr. Adeniyi Tajudeen, explained that the visit was necessary as a way of appreciating Hon. Peller for his concern and prompt reaction, as well as making the government see the urgent need for the repair of the roads,” the statement added.