Ogun State Government has called on miners and associations within the mining sub-sector operating in the State to allow peace to reign, as the present administration will look into the concerns raised by stakeholders on the collection of haulage fees by the State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Mines Workers (NUMW).

Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe made the call in Abeokuta, during a meeting with executives of the Truck Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), Association of Sand, Granite Suppliers and Haulers (ASSOGRASH), and NUMW.

          Longe appealed to stakeholders who were not pleased about paying haulage fees to the State government through the NUMW, to put the interest of the State above all personal interests, adding that there was a need for peaceful co-existence among them for the mining sub-sector to flourish.

“The appointment of NUMW, as revenue agent, was made by Governor Dapo Abiodun, and we must abide by that authority. The Ministry wants a harmonious relationship. We also want to optimise revenue for the government”, the Commissioner stated.

Longe assured that the requests of the associations would be presented to the Governor, urging the stakeholders to cooperate and support the ‘Building Our Future Together’ agenda of the present administration. She called on all miners to carry out their civic duties by paying what the government deserves as revenue.

Contributing, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade, represented by the Assistant Director, Civil Litigation, Ministry of Justice, Adesanya Adebayo, said the National Industrial Court judgment did not preclude the State government from collecting haulage fees, and no association could impose levies on non-members, adding that the government was at liberty to choose any revenue collection agent.

He advised the Unions to officially report any illegal revenue collection by the NUMW to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Presenting their demands earlier, the Chairman, TOAN, Elder Samuel Shittu, and Chairman, ASSOGRASH, Ogun State chapter, Mr. Bamidele Soremekun urged the government to appoint another ticketing agent, as they no longer want to pay haulage fees to the NUMW, due to extortion of their members.

Reacting, the State Chairman, NUMW, Comrade Abiola Fasiu denied allegations leveled against his union, saying the TOAN and ASSOGRASH were deliberately opposing the NUMW and promised to continue to discharge his duties in line with stipulated rules of the agreement reached with the State government.