A significant breakthrough has emerged in the NURTW leadership crisis after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) successfully mediated a peace meeting that brought together rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The reconciliation meeting, chaired by NLC President Joe Ajaero in Abuja, reportedly ended with both camps agreeing to suspend hostilities and pursue dialogue aimed at restoring unity within the transport union.
Sources familiar with the closed-door discussions disclosed that the NLC urged the opposing groups to prioritise the collective interest of the union over personal and factional ambitions, stressing that genuine reconciliation remains the only path to lasting peace. According to insiders, the mediation recorded substantial progress after both factions pledged their readiness to continue engaging in peaceful negotiations and rebuild trust among members of the union.
The parties also reportedly agreed to participate in subsequent reconciliation meetings without imposing preconditions and committed to implementing resolutions reached through the dialogue process. Labour sources described the development as one of the most important advances since the NURTW leadership crisis began, expressing optimism that the renewed willingness to negotiate could finally resolve the prolonged dispute.
The NLC is expected to convene additional meetings in the coming weeks to address unresolved issues and strengthen institutional unity within the union. A source close to the mediation process described the discussions as candid and productive, noting that both camps demonstrated genuine commitment to continuing the reconciliation process.
“There is now a shared commitment to dialogue. Both parties have agreed that the reconciliation process should continue without conditions, and there is optimism that this marks the beginning of a new chapter for the union,” the source said.
The leadership crisis dates back to 2022 following disagreements over the union’s national leadership after Tajudeen Baruwa emerged as National President through the union’s national delegates’ conference. His emergence was subsequently challenged by another faction led by Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, who also laid claim to the union’s leadership.
The competing claims resulted in parallel leadership structures and prolonged court cases, creating uncertainty over the administration of one of Nigeria’s most influential transport unions. As the umbrella body for trade unions in Nigeria, the NLC has repeatedly encouraged both factions to settle their differences through dialogue rather than prolonged confrontation.
In recent months, the labour centre intensified reconciliation efforts by organising a series of engagements designed to identify common ground and rebuild confidence between the rival camps. The latest meeting is widely regarded as the strongest indication yet that the NURTW leadership crisis could move closer to a lasting resolution if both parties sustain the commitments reached during the Abuja peace talks.
