Apparently dissatisfied with Plateau State Government Executive Order 003, banning trucks entering Jos-Bukuru metropolis, the State Joint Transport and Traders and Marketers Association have declared a one-day warning strike, saying the order is inimical to the survival of their businesses.
Recall that the Plateau State Government recently promulgated Executive Order Order 003, 2024, for the Control of Buildings and Vehicular Traffic in Plateau State. Since its implementation, quite a lot of articulated vehicles have been impounded by the taskforce saddled with the responsibility.
Addressing newsmen over the development in Jos, Plateau, the Chairman of the Association, Samaila Garba, along with other executive members of the association, called on the government to review its decisions, adding that such policies of the government could frustrate and jeopardize their business operations.
“It is with a heavy heart that we address you today, as you are aware of the pain and hardship our members and the common citizens of Plateau State are going through as a result of the signing and implementation of Executive Order 003, 2024, for the Control of Buildings and Vehicular Traffic in Plateau, wherein more than 25 trucks had been impounded by Mr. Hart Bankat, the General Manager of JMDB, on behalf of the Plateau State Government on the premise of a violation of the said Executive Order on the first day of its implementation,” he said.
He pointed out that most of the trucks impounded were not moving on the road but were off loading at various stores and shops and were towed to the VIO office at Anglo Jos, adding that the government had refused to release the said trucks to their owners until the sum of N500,000 was paid as a fine on each truck.
The association, which stated that the outright and deliberate refusal of the government to listen to their complaint necessitated, the press conference added that the mandate of the association involves promoting peace, economic stability, and acceptable behavior within society.
The Chairman of the Association said that, as much as the association is ready to support the state government’s efforts at creating an enabling environment for businesses to strive so that the IGR of the state can grow effectively, the association strongly disagrees with the government’s decision to keep or pack vehicles in an environment (an open space) that poses a security threat.
He said, “We had earlier sat with government officials, but this has not yielded any positive result. There is no doubt that having overstretched our patience and non-adherence to democratic tenets, rule of law, and constitutionalism necessitated this press conference”.
The joint association called on the state government to retract its steps on the Executive Order by releasing their impounded trucks immediately, providing designated routes for trucks, and moving goods to Northeast and Northwestern states.
“We will continue to use all available legal means for the enforcement of our fundamental rights.
“In fact, we have resolved to declare tomorrow, the 3rd day of April, 2024, as a warning strike to sit at home to show our dissatisfaction with the said Executive Order 003, 2024, and we shall continue until a lasting solution is found,” he said.
