Comrade Ade Ikuesan Thanks Governor Sanwo-Olu, Vows To Ensure Strict Compliance With Lagos Motor Cycle Regulations As He Takes Over As MOUN Caretaker Committee Chairman

Comrade Ade Ikuesan Thanks Governor Sanwo

OpenLife Nigeria reports that Comrade Ade Ikuesan, a prominent Nigerian labour leader and defender of human rights, has vowed to comply strictly with all the regulations guiding motor cycle transport system in Lagos State.
Ikuesan made this vow at the formal declaration of recognition of the Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria, MOUN, by the Lagos State Government and Commencement of its Union Operations in Lagos State.
MOUN is a registered trade union in Nigeria representing commercial motorcycle riders (“okada”).
In a speech as the Chairman , Caretaker Committee of MOUN, Lagos State Branch, Ikuesan thanked “His Excellency, the Governor , the Deputy Governor, the Hon Commissioner of Transport , the Special Adviser on Transportation, the PS Transport, the Hon Attorney General of the State and all other State officials that worked on MOUN’s application for recognition.”

His speech is reproduced below in full, unedited

Your Excellencies and Heads and Representatives of Security Agencies here present ,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Comrades .

We are gathered here for the official declaration of recognition of MOUN as the only motorcycle operators union in Lagos , by the Lagos State Government, to be followed by the commencement of its union operations in Lagos State .
This is an auspicious occasion, and we are grateful to the Lagos State Government for this recognition and endorsement of MOUN’s operation in the State . We thank His Excellency, the Governor , the Deputy Governor, the Hon Commissioner of Transport , the Special Adviser on Transportation, the PS Transport, the Hon Attorney General of the State and all other State officials that worked on MOUN’s application for recognition.

MOUN is duly registered union under the Trade Unions Act . But it takes more than possession of a certificate of registration for it to gain entry and recognition in the regulated road transportation sector in a metropolitan state like Lagos and anywhere else in Nigeria . So, MOUN does not take this official recognition and authorization for operation for granted .

Let me state that before now , MOUN has started engaging and consulting with the preexisting motorcycle operators associations in Lagos State in recognition of the reality that they cannot be automatically disbanded or dissolved.

The goal and shared objective is to incorporate and integrate the structures and leadership of the preexisting associations in into MOUN , pending when MOUN shall have its first elective State Congress , to be preceded by the units congresses , branches congresses and zonal congresses. This is why we have a caretaker committee, reflecting, in composition, these preexisting groupings.

I want to assure everyone here that in MOUN , the interests of stakeholders in the preexisting groups shall be accommodated and protected. No one shall be left behind.

MOUN being a trade union exists for the protection of the occupational rights and welfare of its members ( trade union rights and interests ) . But it also intends , in a deliberate manner , to be an ally of the government in Lagos State , in all ramifications.

In protecting the interests of its members, MOUN shall embark on meticulous registration of all motorcycle operators in Lagos and digitize the registration, securing the photographs , phone numbers , email addresses , next of kin , blood group , biometrics particulars of its members . The data so collected shall be useful in identification of members , for crimes prevention, immigration, medical emergencies, health insurance , and tax payments purposes.

MOUN shall collaborate with LIRS for tax deductions from a framework of tax remittances either through daily ticketing or other feasible mechanisms such that members can be good, tax paying citizens in Lagos State .

MOUN shall have motorcycle accident insurance schemes for the benefit of its members , and for compensations to members of families in case of fatal motorcycle accidents .

MOUN shall also embark on empowerment programmes for its members through certain systems including cooperatives , micro credit and finance , motorcycle purchase loans , and transition to electric motorcycles whenever feasible.

In the area of transportation and traffic management, MOUN shall comply with the routes restriction regime in Lagos State , and engage in rigorous self regulation, to enforce road transportation discipline. With MOUN , the era of riders massing up and enforcing self help and jungle justice when a fellow rider is involved in an accident , is gone .

We shall with MOUN embrace civility and peaceful way of resolving disputes . In this connection, MOUN shall collaborate with the Police , LASTMA and other government agencies to ensure that there is sanity in motorcycle operation in Lagos State .

MOUN is a member of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ). MOUN, through NLC , shall strengthen the cordial relationship between Labour and Government and work tirelessly to keep public peace .

Thank you, God bless .

Solidarity forever .

Com . Ade Ikuesan
GS and Chair Caretaker Committee, Lagos State .