AUATON NEC UPHOLD THE REMOVAL OF GENERAL SECRETATRY, IBRAHIM AYOADE FOR GROSS VIOLATION OF CONSTITUTION, INCOMPETENCE AND DISREGARD TO OFFICE RESPONSIBILITIES.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), in an emergency meeting held today, upheld the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and the Central Working Committee to remove General Secretary Ibrahim Ayoade from the office for gross violation of the union constitution and disregard for office responsibility.
Comrade Samuel Orji, the chairman of the disciplinary committee, provided a background on the petition against the General Secretary; during his presentation, the committee chairman elaborated on the proper and due process followed to ensure a fair hearing was provided to the General Secretary. In the Chairman’s remark, “We have on numerous occasions in the past explored the options of dialogue, engagement, and mediation facilitated by both the NLC and the Federal Ministry of Labour. These previous attempts led to the development of the guidelines and principles which all the members of the Central Working Committee signed. We noted the situation which brought us to the point of mediation and dialogue to resolve the memorandum of understanding in the first place was the arbitrary disregard of the union’s constitution by the General Secretary.” He further stressed that it was imperative for the National Executive Council to enforce the constitution of the union as the substantive law and the Federal Ministry of Labour’s memorandum of understanding as procedural law, so that the union truly achieve unionization. The members of the National Executive Council stressed that the union has come to stay, and will fight against any form of oppression from those who are being used by platforms to create a perception of division and to disrupt the activity and progress of the union.
Prior to the adoption of the motion to remove Ayoade Ibrahim from office, the Kano state Chairman Comrade Abdulrazak Farouk pleaded with the council members for a lesser punishment. The comrade chairman motioned for the subsistence of the suspension for consideration by the NEC, and that the removal be dismissed. However, members of the NEC refuted this motion, which does not have any seconder, while the motion for the adoption of these three:
The immediate removal of Comrade General Secretary Ayoade Ibrahim and immediate retrieval of all union documents from his possession.
Our investigation finds that he is not fit for the office of General Secretary and the union risks collapsing. Therefore, a viable secretary should be appointed immediately.
The imposed sibling, Ibraheem Soladoye at the southwest council be removed immediately for not having a verifiable history as an App-Based Transporter as constitutionally required. That position should be declared vacant for members of app-based Transporter to be voted in.
Recommendation by the Disciplinary Committees and the earlier resolution of the Central Working Committee was overwhelmingly supported by the council members.
The reaction and contributions of certain NEC members focused and emphasized on the supremacy of the union constitution over individuals’ dictates and wishes. The most condemnable, according to some members, is the former General Secretary’s voice record proclaiming fractionalization of the union, nominating and declaring the deputy president as acting president while the substantive president was never unseated. This, to members of the council, is worrisome and the height of desperation evidenced in the report of investigation conducted by the Disciplinary Committee, suggesting that the claim laid against the National President Comrade Damola Adeniran was politically motivated to achieve a predetermined goal, an attempt to instigate scenarios and insinuations that would warrant the removal of the substantive National President, Comrade Damola Adeniran from office and replace him with the current Deputy President Comrade David Nosa who happens to be the general secretary’s strong ally.
To maintain unity and prevent misrepresentation of the union, a motion and resolution against anti-union practices, activities, and submission or handing over of the union properties, materials, and records by the former general secretary was adopted.
The union warned members, members of the public, international organizations, partners, platforms, government agencies, and Ministry against any dealings with Comrade Ibrahim Ayoade on behalf of Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) to desist and report accordingly. The president, Comrade Damola Adeniran, reassures the union’s unwavering commitment towards the overall welfare of members and urges members to register on the union website www.auatwon.org and follow @auatonofficial on X( twitter), Facebook @auaton.
Great AUATON… United we are stronger
Signed

Comrade Jossy Olawale Adaraniwon.

Chairman, Media, Publicity and Technical Committee.