HEAD of Lagos Parks and Garages, Musiliu Akinsanya (popularly known as MC Oluomo) has announced slashing bus fares in Lagos as a palliative to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
Oluomo’s basis for ordering bus drivers to slash bus fares was hinged on the reduction in the price of tickets given to drivers at parks. He said the ticket of N800 will now be sold for N600.
Oluomo said routes where transport fare is N500 has been reduced to N300 while those paying N200 for fare will now pay N150.
He added that commercial motorcycles (Okada riders) and tricycles (Keke Marwa) operators will get a 25 per cent reduction in the tickets bought from the union.
He announced a task force team that would monitor the implementation of the directives.
Oluomo warned various parks and garages executives to ensure compliance, stating that sanctions would be meted on defaulters.
The task force will be led by all members of state executives, parks’ chairmen and selected union leaders.
He said that the agency will do all it could not to inconvenience the masses, hence the timely intervention.
He said the directive was a follow-up to the announcement of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on bus fare reduction yesterday.
Oluomo said over 50,000 members of the agency will not be joining Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) planned protest tomorrow.
He said: “We, the State Executives and the entire members of Lagos State Parks and Garages met today in Lagos to review the situation in the country, particularly in Lagos following the oil subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
“After much deliberations and review, we discussed the high cost of foods, transport fares and other areas of public interest, in particular the plan by the organised labour union i.e. the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to call workers out on strike action.
“After a careful discussion, we concluded that we will not be part of any strike or protest rally being planned to draw the Federal Government’s attention to the issue being debated in the country. All transport families and members will be at work to convey people to their various destinations without problem because Lagos State Government has announced some interventions in the sector.
“Lagos State Government has provided a conducive atmosphere for our operations. There is, therefore, no reason for us to join any strike that may threaten the peace of the state. The various palliative measures taken by the state government, especially the 50 per cent reduction in government public transport fares and a downward review on our yellow buses fares will also go a long way in cushioning the effect of the subsidy removal.
“We have also embarked on internal measures, like downward reviews in Lagos State Government and Union Tickets. With this, there will be a reduction in transport fares by commercial drivers.
“We, at Lagos State Parks and Garages, therefore, equivocally say no to any form of strikes or protest by any group or organised labour. All our members are enjoined to go on their normal duties without any fear or intimidation.”
Source: TheNiche Newspaper
Eighteen-Eleven Media