Oyo Govt Loses in Court as Appeal Justices Reinstate NURTW Operations
The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has delivered a landmark judgment in favour of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Oyo State Chapter, against the Oyo State Government over the suspension of the union’s activities.
In its ruling on Friday, September 26, 2025, the appellate court allowed the appeal filed by the union and set aside the earlier judgment of the lower court which had upheld the state government’s suspension order.
This newspaper could recall that the Seyi Makinde led government suspended the activities of the NURTW in 2019 on his assumption of office.
The panel of justices, led by Hon. Justice Amadi and unanimously supported by Hon. Justices George-Well and Umaru, held that the Oyo State Governor lacked the legal authority to suspend or proscribe the operations of a registered trade union.
Representing the NURTW, Mr. Moyosore Adedokun, Esq. held the brief of renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN. The Oyo State Government was represented by the Attorney-General, Mr. Abiodun Aikomo, alongside senior state counsels.
In their judgment, the justices faulted the government’s action, stressing that the respondents failed to provide specific evidence of violent conduct by the union that could justify the suspension. Instead, they relied on “mere allegations of violence without citing concrete incidents.”
The court further emphasized that while the government has a constitutional duty to maintain peace and order, such powers must be exercised strictly within the confines of the law. The justices declared that there was no existing law granting the governor or governors powers to unilaterally suspend the activities of a constitutionally recognized union.
Quoting key points from the judgment, the court stated:
“Fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution can only be derogated from by due process of law, not by the whims and caprices of an executive.”
“The governor’s power to maintain law and order does not extend to banning or suspending the activities of a legally constituted trade union without specific statutory authority.”
With this ruling, the Appeal Court reaffirmed the position that the NURTW was never proscribed but only suspended, and that such suspension was unconstitutional and unlawful.
The judgment is widely seen as a victory for trade unionism and constitutional democracy in Nigeria, reaffirming that executive powers must always bow to the rule of law.