Drivers Operating the Bus Rapid Transit
(BRT) buses have just resumed back to work on Wednesday (Today) after they
embark on a protest on Tuesday against Non payment of their salaries. NAN
Report
Report made it known that #50 billion
have been lost over the work-down of the BRT operators for a day
The management, led by Mr Fola Tinubu,
however, expressed its apologies to its teeming commuters for the pains the
strike brought on them.
NAN reports that the drivers had also
protested against alleged unfavourable working conditions of service.
A correspondent of NAN that visited the
Majidun Depot of the company in Ikorodu on Wednesday morning saw some of the
drivers preparing their buses for the day’s operations.
He, however, saw some of them loitering
outside the depot.
He noted that the atmosphere changed
positively when Mr Fola Tinubu, the company’s Managing Director, rode in the
first bus from the depot to its Ikorodu Terminal.
NAN reports that at the terminal, Tinubu
reassured commuters that the buses had resumed their regular services.
After then, the first set of buses
rolled out of the depot at 7.15 a.m.
NAN reports that the scheme, being
operated by Primero Transport Services Ltd., provides bus services along
dedicated lanes in the metropolis with Lagos Island to Ikorodu and vice-versa
enjoying a great boost.
NAN also observed that policemen from
the BRT Monitoring and Enforcement Task Force were seen manning the main
entrance to the premises.
Tinubu, after the ride told NAN that the
buses had resumed operations.
“As you can see, the buses are back on
the road, we have rolled out over 100 buses and we are pushing more out.
“So all I can do is to appeal to
residents of Lagos to bear with us, it was circumstances beyond our control; it
is over now, our buses are back on the road.’’
He said that drivers who were yet to
report for work could do so, saying “the terms of employment have been spelt
out; if you are comfortable with it you can come and work.
“If you are not, you can look for
employment somewhere else; it is not by force for us that somebody has to work
for Primero.
“So if they are happy let them come in,
I don’t have grudges against anybody.
“As you can see, all the ones (drivers)
that were out yesterday are back at work now, so if the few that are outside
want to come they can do so.
“I am not putting a deadline on it right
now, he said.’’
Tinubu said that the company lost no
less than N50 million when commenting on the financial loss from the strike.
“Though, a minimum of N50 million was
lost by the company, residents of Lagos bore the pain the most during the
one-day strike embarked upon by the drivers.
“We’ve not even quantified it yet; but
we are looking at least N50 million.
“But more importantly, what about all
the people (commuters) that wanted to go to work and couldn’t do so, or were
late for work, contract.
“How do you quantify the sufferings that
people went through yesterday; so, let us forget Primero’s loss.
“All I can do is just beg them
(commuters) and apologise,’’ he added.
He said the company would continue to
provide quality services to its commuters, as well as create conducive working
environments for its members of staff.
“In fact, this event (the strike) will
re-energize me, and I will intensify my efforts, not only to make the busmen
happy but also to provide a better service for Lagos residents,’’ he said.
Tinubu also expressed the company’s
appreciation to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and the Lagos Metropolitan
Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) for resolving the issues that precipitated
the strike.
“The governor has been very good on this
issue; I thank him so much.
“He is one of the people that made the
resumption possible because he cares a lot about the commuters.’’
NAN reports that less than 20 minutes
after the buses resumed operations, hundreds of commuters heading for various
destinations had thronged the Ikorodu Terminal to board them.
Some of the passengers told NAN that
they were excited with the resolution of the impasse between the BRT management
and its protesting drivers.
Mrs Folashade Adebiyi, a businesswoman,
said, “It’s indeed a relief that the drivers had called off their strike;
yesterday (Tuesday) was hellish for some of us.
“I want to thank all the parties
involved in the resolution and ensured the buses returned to the road.’’
Another passenger, Mr Mathew Obinna,
urged the management of the BRT buses to ensure such a lull did not reoccur.
NAN reports that Primero, which began
operations in November 2015, has 434 buses in its fleet and more than 2,000
staff. (NAN)
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