The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja has ordered the current officials occupying the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) national secretariat, led by Musiliu Akinsanya, to vacate the office. The court judgment directed the claimants, led by Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, to immediately take over the leadership and management of the union in the Federal Capital Territory.
Delivering judgment on March 6, 2026, in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/203/2025, Justice E. D. Subilim held that the defendants and anyone occupying the office through them must immediately leave the premises and hand over control to the recognised union leadership under Baruwa.
The claimants in the case include Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, Bello Adamu, Eugene Eze Job, Dajuma Saidu, Prince Isah Dahiru Usman, Suleman Adamu, Odion Olaye (JP), Chief Herbert C. Iwuji, Muhammed Bello Madu, Olajide Abideen Abimbola, Lekan Salami Folorunsho, Monday Eleazar, Comrade Chukwudi Asogwa, and the NURTW as an entity.
The defendants named in the suit are Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, Alhaji Tajudeen Badru Agbede, Alhaji Kayode Agbeyangi, Kayode Agbeyangi, Alhaji Alhassan Haruna, Aliyu Tanimu, and Alhaji Haakeem Adeosun.
The dispute arose after two factions within the NURTW claimed leadership of the union. The Baruwa-led group approached the National Industrial Court seeking legal recognition as the legitimate leaders and asking the court to restrain the Akinsanya-led team from occupying the union’s national office in Abuja.
The claimants argued that the defendants were illegally parading themselves as officials and taking control of the union’s secretariat, which hindered proper administration and management of the body. They sought an order to prevent the defendants from continuing to operate from the Abuja office and to hand over all union property, documents, and facilities.
Justice Subilim, after reviewing the arguments and evidence from both parties, ruled in favour of the claimants. The judgment states that the defendants must immediately vacate the union office, hand over all union property, and cease further occupation of the premises.
The court also restrained the defendants and their associates from collecting tickets or fees from union members across all states in the federation, a function reserved for the recognised leadership under Baruwa.
The judgment is expected to restore stability and proper administration to the NURTW secretariat in Abuja. The union, which oversees road transport workers across Nigeria, has long been an influential body in the transport sector. The leadership tussle had created confusion among members and disrupted operations at both state and national levels.
The NURTW, formed in 1978, serves as the umbrella organisation for all commercial drivers, vehicle owners, and transport operators in Nigeria. It regulates fare structures, routes, and licensing matters for its members and ensures compliance with transport regulations. The Abuja secretariat is the nerve centre of the union, coordinating activities across the 36 states of the federation.
Leadership disputes like the recent one often affects the union’s ability to operate effectively. Court interventions have become necessary to ensure that proper governance structures are maintained and that the union continues to function without disruption.
Members of the union expressed optimism that the ruling would bring relief to ordinary transport operators who had been caught in the middle of the leadership crisis. One NURTW member in Abuja said, “We have been confused about who to report to. Now, with this judgment, there is hope that things will go back to normal, and our contributions will be properly managed.”
Legal analysts also noted that the decision underscores the role of the National Industrial Court in resolving labour and union disputes in Nigeria. By giving clear directives on leadership recognition, the court has strengthened the rule of law within organized labour and trade unions.
The key directives from the court include:
The defendants and anyone occupying the union office through them must immediately vacate the premises.
The Baruwa-led leadership is to take over the affairs of the NURTW national secretariat in Abuja forthwith.
All property, documents, and facilities belonging to the union must be handed over to the recognised leadership.
The defendants and their agents are restrained from collecting tickets, levies, or fees from union members across Nigeria.
These measures are designed to ensure that only the officially recognized leadership manages union operations, preventing further conflicts or administrative confusion.
The NURTW plays a central role in Nigeria’s transport sector, regulating the activities of millions of drivers and transport operators nationwide. Any leadership vacuum or disputes can disrupt the operations of commercial transport services, affecting commuters and businesses that rely on road transport.
