Inter-State Travel: Transport Union Begs FG To Subsidise Operation Cost For Motorists To Prevent Fares Hike

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has appealed to the Federal Government to subsidise operation cost for motorists to prevent an increase in the price of fares.

MERIDIAN SPY reported Monday, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 Boss Mustapha announced the decision by the government to lift the ban on inter-state travel amid the rise in cases of the virus.

The government however outlined some guidelines to be followed by transport operators to limit the spread of COVID-19 including the reduction of passengers to 10 per trip.

Acting General Secretary of the road transport union, Kabiru Yau commended the Federal Government for lifting the ban on inter-state travel.

Yau however explained that for its members to comply with the guidelines outlined by the government to prevent the spread of the virus, their income will be shrinked.

“We thank the Federal Government for lifting the ban; it is a welcome development because it is over three months that our members have been out of jobs and without income,” he said.

“At least, our people will now start working and get something to feed their families.

“But at the same time, due to the spacing in the vehicles which will require the drivers to carry only nine or ten instead of the usual 18 passengers, the income of the drivers will be reduced.

“So we want the government to help subsidise the cost of those passengers that we will not be carrying or we will have to increase our transport fares.

“This is because the money that will be generated from the reduced number of passengers will barely cover the cost of fuel for the journey.”