MC OLUOMO ANNOUNCES REDUCTION IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES AND PARK FARES
By ‘Leke Yusuf
– Lagos Commercial Drivers will not participate in NLC/TUC Protests
– NLC/TUC Resolve to go ahead with Protest Actions
Chairman of Lagos State Parks and Garages (LASPG), Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo) has announced relief packages to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy removal on commuters in Lagos State.
The packages, he said, cuts across commercial bus owners, drivers and passengers.
Akinsanya noted that the tickets issued to drivers at parks for N800 will now be sold for N600.
“All bookings, he said, would have 25 per cent reduction.
“On routes where transport fare is N500, it has now been reduced to N300 while those paying N200 for fare will now pay N150.”
The relief measures also state that commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke Marwa) operators will gave 25 per cent reduction in the tickets bought from their unions.
Akinsanya warned various parks and garagesā executives to ensure compliance, stating that sanctions would be meted on defaulters. He also announced that a task force team would monitor the implementation of the directives.
The task force will be led by all members of state executives, parksā chairmen and selected union leaders.
He said that the agency will do all it could not to inconvenient the masses, hence the timely intervention.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State had announced on Monday that public transport buses would reduce their fares by 25%.
The LASPG boss said over 50,000 members of the agency will not be joining Nigeria Labour Congressā (NLC) planned protests.
He said: āWe, 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.
āAfter 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 a strike action.
āAfter a careful discussion, we concluded that we will not be part of any strike or protest rally being planned to draw the Federal Government attention to the issue being debated in the country. All transport family 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.
āLagos State Government has provided a conducive atmosphere for our operations. There is, therefore, no reason for us to join any strike that may threaten peace of the state. The various palliative measures taken by the state government especially the 50 per cent reduction of government public transports 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 the internal measures like downward reviews on Lagos State Government and Union Tickets. With this, there will be a reduction in transport fares by commercial drivers.
āWe at Lagos State Parks and Garages, therefore, equivocally say no to any form of strikes and protest by any group or organized labour. All our members are enjoined to go on their normal duties without any fear or intimidation.ā