Commuters were stranded, yesterday, when Lagos Bus Rapid Transport, BRT’s drivers and ticketers on the Ikorodu-CMS route went on strike over unpaid salaries and unfavourable condition of service.
The BRT scheme, operated by Primero Transport Services Ltd., began operation in November 2015 and has 434 buses on its fleet; and more than 2,000 staff. It was gathered that the workers convened an emergency meeting at about 5.45a.m. at the loading station, after which they converged on the bus corridor and barricaded it.
Some of the workers, who spoke to Vanguard, lamented that their terms of service had been reversed, with salaries slashed from N60,000 to N45,000.
A driver, Mr. Julius Adejire, said: “We are still waiting for our July salaries. The funny thing is that as at Monday evening, we discovered that some other staffers, including the engineers and ground staff, have been receiving salaries alerts.
Can we drive this bus on empty stomach?’’ Adejire said that apart from delayed salaries, the drivers wanted improved welfare and working conditions.
Meanwhile, some stranded passengers expressed their disappointment and urged the Lagos State Government to intervene in the matter in the interest of commuters and residents of Lagos as commercial buses used the opportunity to increase their fares on the route.
The BRT scheme, operated by Primero Transport Services Ltd., began operation in November 2015 and has 434 buses on its fleet; and more than 2,000 staff. It was gathered that the workers convened an emergency meeting at about 5.45a.m. at the loading station, after which they converged on the bus corridor and barricaded it.
Some of the workers, who spoke to Vanguard, lamented that their terms of service had been reversed, with salaries slashed from N60,000 to N45,000.
A driver, Mr. Julius Adejire, said: “We are still waiting for our July salaries. The funny thing is that as at Monday evening, we discovered that some other staffers, including the engineers and ground staff, have been receiving salaries alerts.
Can we drive this bus on empty stomach?’’ Adejire said that apart from delayed salaries, the drivers wanted improved welfare and working conditions.
Meanwhile, some stranded passengers expressed their disappointment and urged the Lagos State Government to intervene in the matter in the interest of commuters and residents of Lagos as commercial buses used the opportunity to increase their fares on the route.