*Warring PMS factions, stakeholders broker peace
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Worried by the incessant disturbances in Oyo State, stakeholders in public transportation sector in the state on Thursday, tasked Governor Seyi Makinde to appoint a technocrat to supervise activities of transport unions in the state
They gave the task in a communique issued at the end of a town hall meeting held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi Ibadan by stakeholders in the public transportation sector in Oyo State.
In the communique read by the Director, Public Works and Transport, Mr Olatunde Olasunkanmi, the stakeholders said that the time has come for Oyo State Government to develop a succession plan for PMS operation in the state and as well, called for the formation of interim or caretaker management team to be established.
Part of the communique reads, “The gathering has crops of representative of Oyo State Government, transport related agencies, civil servants, transport operators, groups, civil organizations, community leaders etc, attended and contributed meaningfully in the discussion at the town hall meeting.
“Having critically assessed PMS situation, the following resolutions were arrived at that, interim management team/caretaker should be established”, it said.
The communique added, “An interim management team/ caretaker should be established, the chairman should be appointed by the governor and should be a technocrat or professional in transport planning and management but impartial (not a member of any group)”
They pointed out in the communique that, members of the Interim management team/ caretaker should be drawn from various verified transport operative groups and the Government representative from various of works and transport; land, housing and urban development; justice; environment and water resources; local government State chieftaincy matters; finance; security operatives; state transport management agency.”
Other resolutions of the stakeholders at the Town Hall meeting included to
* Make use of branch leaders (probably at zonal levels)
* Collection of revenue should be handled by the committee through appointed staff by the committee
*Office should be created withing the state secretariat for the committee for its operation.
” Test run the system for three months and prepare operational report for the government.
* Government through the committee should profile all operators in the state.
* The committee should take censor of all street to avoid public disturbance.
* Government should have a succession plan for PMS operation in the state.
* Government should provide good security apparatus for the operations of the committee.
* Majorly all stakeholders have agreed to work together peacefully as a team.”
