The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has said it might be increasing its interstate travel fares due to the new guidelines issued by the federal government.
NURTW acting general secretary, Kabiru Yau, disclosed this while responding to the lifting of the ban on interstate travels from 1st July which was announced by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday, 29th June.
Aliyu Sani, the National Coordinator of the taskforce, stated that Interstate travel must be done before the 10pm to 4am national curfew and that vehicles are mandated to carry only fifty percent of their capacity.
Responding to the Federal Government’s resolution, Yalu said
“We thank the federal government for lifting the ban. It is a welcome development because it is over three months that our members have been out of jobs and without income. ”
“At least, our people will now start working and get something to feed their families. But at the same time, due to the spacing in the vehicles which will require the drivers to carry only nine or ten instead of the usual 18 passengers, the income of the drivers will be reduced.”
“So we want the government to help subsidise the cost of those passengers that we will not be carrying or we will have to increase our transport fares. This is because the money that will be generated from the reduced number of passengers will barely cover the cost of fuel for the journey.”
“So, what is the gain? What will you give to the owner of the vehicle? So, the government should please help us look into this matter.”
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