Titus Eleweke, South East Editor I Tuesday, June 09.2026
AWKA, Anambra – Bus drivers in Anambra State, under the auspices of the Anambra Bus Drivers Forum (ABDF), have appealed to the state government to conduct an election that will allow genuine drivers and vehicle owners to manage their affairs and strengthen the transport sector.
The appeal was made on Tuesday during a visit by leaders of the forum to the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Edward Ibuzor, at his office in the Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex, Awka.
Speaking during the meeting, the Convener of the Anambra Bus Drivers Forum, Comrade Osita Obi, said the delegation visited the commissioner to seek government support in ensuring that drivers take control of the administration of their union.
According to him, the people currently seeking recognition as leaders of the drivers’ union are mostly professional unionists who neither own buses nor drive for a living.
“I am here to present the real stakeholders in the transport sector,people who own buses and drive them daily,not professional unionists who have no direct involvement in the profession. The people standing here are genuinely interested in driving the economy of the state through transportation,” he said.
Obi stressed that drivers are seeking government approval to unionize for the benefit of their welfare, security, and the overall economic development of the state.
“Those who should be allowed to unionize are the actual drivers and vehicle owners, not individuals who are not involved in the profession. I am not qualified to be their leader because I do not drive a bus. Leadership should come from among the drivers themselves,” he added.
Also speaking, the President-General of Owners and Drivers in Anambra State, Mr. Chinedu Moulokwu, popularly known as “Maintain,” appealed to the government to ensure that only practicing drivers are allowed to emerge as leaders of transport unions in the state.
“We are here to ensure that those who are genuinely part of the transport system are allowed to organize and elect their leaders. We do not want professional unionists to hijack the process for their personal interests,” he said.
Responding, the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Edward Ibuzor, acknowledged that different groups had approached his office claiming to represent drivers and transport stakeholders in the state.
He noted that the government’s primary concern is the welfare and wellbeing of drivers and their families.
According to him, his administration would not support any arrangement that allows individuals who are not drivers to dominate or take over the affairs of drivers’ union.
“Drivers face numerous challenges, including accidents and other occupational risks, and in many cases their families are left without support. We cannot allow individuals who merely claim to represent welfare interests to take over the union. Before presenting any proposal to the governor, we must sit down, fine-tune the modalities, and develop a workable welfare framework. We will continue discussions and reach an acceptable arrangement,” he stated.
The commissioner assured the delegation that he understands the realities faced by drivers because of his close interactions with transport operators across the state.
He pledged to ensure that the interests of genuine drivers remain protected.
Drivers Demand Election
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Comrade Obi said the delegation visited the commissioner to congratulate him on his appointment and formally request the conduct of elections for drivers’ unions in the state.
According to him, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo had previously indicated that he does not support the dominance of professional unionists in transport unions.
Obi alleged that some of the individuals presenting themselves as stakeholders are not drivers but people interested in collecting money from drivers under the guise of welfare contributions.
“These people call themselves stakeholders, but the individuals standing here are the real drivers who operate on the roads every day. They are the ones paying taxes and contributing to the state’s economy,” he said.
He argued that conducting elections would benefit both drivers and the state government.
“If elections are conducted, more drivers will be encouraged to register and join the tax net, thereby increasing internally generated revenue. Drivers can also play a significant role in security monitoring because they interact daily with different categories of passengers.
“That is why we are partnering with security agencies and encouraging drivers to report suspicious activities under the ‘See Something, Say Something’ initiative.
“When drivers have a properly structured union, they will take responsibility for enforcing discipline among their members. Incidents involving drivers fighting with traffic officials or violating traffic regulations will reduce significantly. Government will also have a recognized leadership structure through which information can easily be communicated to drivers,” he said.
Obi further lamented that the absence of a properly managed union has left drivers vulnerable.
“Everything is currently disorganized. Money collected from drivers in the name of welfare often does not benefit the drivers. Genuine welfare means that when a driver encounters difficulties,whether through illness, accidents, or other emergencies,he should be able to access support from the union. Drivers want the authority to manage their own affairs and protect their interests,” he added.
Drivers Seek End to Harassment
Also speaking after the meeting, Moulokwu expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the discussions and described the engagement with the commissioner as productive.
“We are happy to have met the commissioner and discussed our challenges with him. What we want is a transport system that functions normally and efficiently.
“Drivers are constantly complaining about harassment and disturbances from traffic enforcement agencies, police units, and touts. We are appealing to the commissioner to intervene and rescue us from these challenges,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the commissioner would fulfill the assurances he gave during the meeting.
“We have known him for a long time, and we believe he will do what he promised,” he added.
The former President-General of Drivers in Anambra State and current leader of interstate drivers, Mr. Obinna Alusiobi, said drivers have suffered for years under the leadership of professional unionists who have little understanding of the challenges facing transport operators.
According to him, it is inappropriate for individuals who neither drive nor own buses to emerge as leaders of drivers’ unions.
“For more than 15 years, these professional unionists have controlled the system. They claim to be the parent union and handpick whoever they want to lead the drivers for their own interests.
“They do not allow drivers to elect leaders of their choice. Instead, they appoint loyalists who help them exploit drivers. These are the same people who opposed the digitalization of Anambra State’s revenue collection system when it was introduced by the government,” he alleged.
Alusiobi maintained that anyone aspiring to lead drivers should be an active participant in the profession and committed to the welfare of members.
“We need leaders who will ensure that when a driver dies, his family receives support. If a driver is involved in an accident and lacks funds to repair his vehicle, the union should assist him and allow him to repay gradually. That is what genuine welfare should look like,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the current commissioner would address the concerns raised by drivers and support their quest to elect leaders of their choice.
“What we want is for drivers to manage their own affairs. If government allows us to have a properly recognized union, elections can be conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport. If any elected leader fails to perform, appropriate measures can be taken.
“We have two categories of drivers,intrastate and interstate operators. Interstate drivers serve as ambassadors of the state because they interact with people from different parts of the country. They can help communicate government policies and inform traders and investors that Anambra State is open for business, including on Mondays, following the lifting of the sit-at-home restrictions,” he stated.
