AUATON suspends General Secretary over alleged gross misconduct

By Matthew Denis, Abuja

The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has suspended its General Secretary, Ayoade Ibrahim over alleged misconduct and disregard to office responsibilities of the association.

This is contained in a statement signed by Comrade Jossy Adaraniwon

Chairman Media, Publicity, and Technical Committee of the association and made available to Newsmen on Sunday night.

The statement reads as follows

“The central working committee of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) in a crucial meeting held on 23 March 2024 Suspended the general secretary Ayoade Ibrahim in a motion that read a series of weighty offenses moved by comrade Fred Aleburu the national auditor and seconded by Joseph Adaraniwon the national Exofficio.

The motion was supported by two-thirds (2/3) of members present and eligible to vote, while five other were indifference on the motion.

“The petition and motion read, Dear Comrade President and members of Central Working Committee, petition against THE HABITUAL VIOLATION AND CONTRAVENTION OF CONSTITUTION, GROSS MISCONDUCT AND BREACH OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES BY COMRADE AYOADE IBRAHIM THE GENERAL SECRETARY.

“I, Hon.Comrade Fred Enaikhe Aleburu stand before you this afternoon to present a matter of national interest that will safeguard the union’s constitutionality, unity, integrity, rule of law, abuse of office power, and promote the overall objective of our great union if considered.

“I have noticed and watched with keen interest as the national Auditor severally, the general secretary comrade Ayoade Ibrahim violation and blatant disregard to the union constitution, principle of trade union and authorities of CWC till date without consequences, some of the good example out of many are the following.

“The general secretary consistently rejected the call for a meeting by the president and member of CWC in violation of sections 15Dvi,ix, and xii (functions of General Secretary).

“This refusal to attend the union national symposium and meeting established through CWC resolution without any official message to the CWC is a violation of the Ministry of Labour MOU witnessed by the registrar and also an anti-union practice

“Continue to operate in the name of the bloc (nupedp ID card) sent to the CWC group. In violation of the union constitution as stated under the Preamble and Ministry of Labour resolution.

” Failure to carry out the CWC resolutions. Anti-union activities. Violation of the Ministry of Labour resolution.

“Opening of NEC group without CWC resolution and the purported claim to get AUATON secretariat without the awareness of President and CWC or NEC resolution as constitutionally required

” Relieving the President and Treasurer of Admin Right and locking out all National Officers from the CWC platform. Threats to run a parallel Union, Anti-union, and Personal interest.

“The General Secretary Uses the union platform to propagate another union vision and objectives as against Article 3a-k.The General Secretary proclaims and addresses himself in the union CWC, NEC, and publicly as an officer of another union that AUATON has no relationship with or knows the General Secretary’s relationship in contravention of Article 30:13.

“The General Secretary engages in blackmailing and disruption of CWC’s image by instigating state executives against national officers of the union. And going public on a delicate union document yet to be treated by the CWC and the NEC.

“Failure to provide up-to-date minutes of the union meetings General Secretary which is the core responsibility of the General Secretary. Article 24b(incompetency).

“Failure to carry out the CWC resolutions, disruption of southwest Zonal inauguration, and forceful imposition of sibling as vice-chairman.The creation of a personal email for official union assignments and personal business is against the approved union private emailinfo@auatwon.org, he created a parallel group for the State’s principal officers of the union as against NEC and denied member of CWC access and other related issues. ”

Several attempts to get the general secretary to react to the suspension his contact couldn’t be reached at the time of filing this report.