By Tony Okafor, Awka
Drivers contribute about 65 per cent to the Nigerian economy but receive little or no corresponding welfare from government and transport unions, the National President and founder of the Drivers Welfare Club of Nigeria, Comrade Monday Elimigbe, has said.
Elimigbe, who stated this on Wednesday while speaking on the activities and objectives of the organisation, said Nigerian drivers remained critical to the movement of people, goods and government revenue across the country, yet had been largely excluded from decisions affecting their welfare.
He said, “Without the driver, a park will not exist; without the driver, the unions will not exist; without the driver, government will not get revenue, and without the driver, passengers cannot move from one place to another.”
According to him, drivers are often “very far from the government door,” with many unaware of policies and laws affecting their profession.
He said this lack of orientation and representation had contributed to some of the negative behaviours associated with drivers, arguing that government, particularly the Ministry of Information, should intensify public enlightenment on the ethics and values expected of professional drivers.
Elimigbe said the Drivers Welfare Club of Nigeria, registered in 2000 and officially launched in 2003 at Eagle Square, Abuja, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was established specifically to promote drivers’ welfare, irrespective of their category.
He distinguished the organisation from transport unions such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), describing the latter as operators involved in managing motor parks on behalf of government.
He said the club had instead chosen to work directly with government to ensure that drivers had better access to welfare schemes and were brought closer to government policies.
Elimigbe said the organisation had introduced insurance and cooperative initiatives for its members, under which a deceased driver’s family could receive ₦1 million, while a driver who suffered amputation could receive ₦500,000 and up to ₦200,000 for medical expenses.
He also said the club had established a registered and trademarked cooperative through which drivers could access interest-free loans to address immediate financial needs.
On its partnership with the Anambra State Government, Elimigbe said the organisation was involved in the sales of drivers’ safety manifests.
He said an agreement had been signed with the state Ministry of Transport and the necessary authorisation obtained, adding that the initiative was designed to provide comprehensive welfare support for drivers while also supporting the state’s revenue-generation efforts.
According to him, the initiatives are consistent with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration’s emphasis on automation and digital processes.
