An official of the transport union in Ibadan, Mr Mutiu Sulaiman, has rejected the continued association of commercial drivers with thuggery, saying government-built terminals have improved discipline, organisation and conduct among transport workers.
Sulaiman, the Assistant Secretary of the Lagelu Terminal Branch, said the familiar image of motor parks as places characterised by disorder, drinking and fights over passengers no longer reflected operations within the terminal.
Speaking with Ibadan City Announcer in his office in Ibadan, he acknowledged that some past practices had contributed to the negative public perception of commercial drivers. He maintained, however, that the introduction of organised terminals had brought significant changes.
According to him, drivers who previously operated from roadsides now work within a system that regulates how they park, load passengers and conduct themselves.
“Now, drivers dress the part, park their buses and wait for their turn to load,” he said.
Sulaiman, who said he had spent about two decades in the transport business, explained that he took up driving after completing his education and being unable to secure a job.
He said he represents the branch chairman in Ibadan North, Comrade Olohun-esan JP, at the terminal and reports developments to him for onward communication to the state union leadership.
His responsibilities, he added, extend beyond supervising drivers to attending to issues involving traders and passengers within the terminal.
Reflecting on the conditions under which drivers previously operated, Sulaiman said roadside loading often encouraged competition for passengers, arguments and physical confrontations.
He acknowledged that careless dressing, drinking and disorderly conduct had also contributed to the poor reputation of motor park workers.
He said the terminal system had helped address those practices by introducing loading arrangements and rules governing activities within the premises.
According to him, traders are prohibited from selling alcohol, cigarettes and illicit substances within the terminal, while applicants seeking trading spaces undergo screening before being admitted.
Sulaiman claimed that the restrictions had influenced the personal habits of some drivers, with a number of them continuing to avoid such substances even outside the terminal.
He also disputed the assumption that everyone found causing trouble around a garage was a registered transport worker.
According to him, some disturbances are caused by people who have no legitimate transport business at the location but remain around motor parks.
He said people without a legitimate purpose are no longer permitted to loiter within the terminal, adding that access is regulated to maintain order for passengers, drivers and traders.
Responding to questions about the relationship between transport unions and government, Sulaiman said such engagement was a normal part of administering public transport facilities.
He argued that transport workers should not be singled out for criticism over their dealings with government, noting that teachers, traditional rulers and community heads also interact with public authorities in carrying out their responsibilities.
According to him, when government constructed terminals and garages, union leaders were invited and briefed on how the facilities were expected to operate.
He said the union’s role involved communicating those expectations to members and ensuring compliance within the terminal.
On payments by drivers, Sulaiman said they were not subjected to a separate government tax within the arrangement he described. Rather, he explained, drivers obtain tickets identifying them with Oyo State and their designated terminal.
He described the ticket payments as the government’s only source of revenue from drivers under that arrangement.
Sulaiman said rising fuel prices had placed commercial drivers under considerable financial pressure, increasing the cost of operating their vehicles.
According to him, fuel prices had risen three times during the year, but the state chairman had not supported an increase in transport fares.
He said drivers had raised concerns about the effect on their earnings but had been urged to consider the economic difficulties facing passengers.
The leadership, he explained, had appealed to members to show understanding and avoid adding to commuters’ financial burdens.
On passenger safety, Sulaiman said task forces regularly inspect vehicles operating from the terminal, checking their tyres, seats, gears and brakes.
He said he participates in the inspections as part of his leadership responsibilities.
With the festive season approaching, he stressed the need for greater care in vehicle preparation and the transportation of passengers.
According to him, maintaining order within a terminal must be supported by attention to the condition of vehicles taking passengers on journeys.
He added that buses and conductors operating within the system are registered, explaining that the government would hold the union accountable if problems arose.
Sulaiman said garages outside the terminal also fall under its supervision, although the distance between some residential communities and the terminals continues to influence where passengers board vehicles.
He explained that some residents prefer to wait by the roadside for passing buses because travelling to a terminal would require an additional journey.
He expressed concern that boarding vehicles at unauthorised roadside locations could expose passengers to robbery and kidnapping, arguing that criminals find it more difficult to operate within a regulated terminal.
According to him, the union has deployed a limited number of buses on some routes to improve access to organised transport services.
He maintained that roadside loading had become less common, although some passengers still choose to board passing vehicles.
On entry into the business, Sulaiman said prospective drivers could join but were expected to learn under experienced drivers before taking on full responsibilities.
He explained that the learning process includes understanding terminal rules, passenger limits, ticket numbers and loading procedures.
For drivers unfamiliar with long-distance journeys, he said accompanying experienced colleagues on interstate trips provides practical preparation.
Recalling his own early experience, Sulaiman said he also travelled with established drivers to gain confidence and learn the demands of the job.
He noted that driving a fully loaded commercial bus requires experience, explaining that someone accustomed to carrying only a few people could become anxious when responsible for as many as 18 passengers.
Sulaiman said the union encourages the peaceful resolution of disagreements between drivers and passengers.
He noted that vehicle breakdowns can lead to frustration, arguments and, in some cases, passengers recording videos for social media.
Despite such tensions, he said officials were expected to explain the situation and work towards a resolution.
According to him, harassing a passenger could discourage that person from returning to the terminal and damage confidence in its services.
He said officials therefore take time to explain loading arrangements and other procedures to passengers unfamiliar with the system.
Sulaiman maintained that the changes introduced through organised terminals should be reflected in how the public views commercial drivers, saying the conduct of registered transport workers should not be judged solely by the motor park practices of the past.
