A major crisis is brewing in Enugu State as commercial transport unions threaten to shut down transit operations statewide following moves by the Enugu State Government to take over union dues collection and ban non-state levies across motor terminals.
The looming conflict, our Correspondent gathered on Friday, involves major transport bodies, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, which collectively control over 60,000 commercial vehicles operating daily across the state.
Trouble mounted after the Chairman of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Emmanuel Nnamani, communicated a directive on Wednesday, stipulating that the state government would take over all terminal commission collections and remit 15 per cent back to the unions.
Union leaders rejected the policy, describing it as an attempt to hijack internal welfare funds used to maintain branch offices, assist injured members, and fund daily operations.
Speaking on behalf of the operators, on Friday, shortly before a scheduled meeting with government officials, an NURTW member, Agbo Celestine, warned that drivers would halt transport services across the state if the government failed to restore the status quo.
“We are trade unions governed nationwide by rules from our national headquarters, not controlled by the state,” Agbo said. “The percentage the governor said he will give to national unions targets union management, not field workers who feed their families from daily collections. If the peace we are providing is no longer acceptable, we will also come out and protest.”
Another union representative, Chisom Njoku, condemned the move, arguing that unions purchase, maintain, and load vehicles without state assistance. He detailed existing daily state taxes under the e-ticket system—ranging from N750 for tricycles (Keke) to N4,500 for heavy trailers—alongside charges for digital manifests and emblem tags.
In response to the union agitations, the management of Enugu East Zone Bus Terminals released an official public announcement outlining new regulatory directives designed to curb extortion and streamline terminal operations.
According to the directives issued by the state government:
“Town Service (Intra-City) Vehicles: All toll collections from tricycles and intra-city buses plying Enugu City ceased effective October 1, 2026.
“Interstate Vehicles: Toll collection on interstate departures was reviewed to the cost equivalent of one passenger seat per exit.
“Ban on Non-State Collections: All forms of non-state revenue collection across terminals were banned immediately, prohibiting unions, associations, or individuals from collecting unapproved levies.”
Official working documents from the Enugu East Bus Terminals Revenue Improvement Plan show that proposed terminal service charges per departure range from N100 for tricycles and N200 for town service buses to N2,000 for South-East routes, N3,000 for South-South routes, and N4,000 for Abuja, Lagos, and Northern destinations. The digital manifest system (TAP) will automatically track trip records, passenger manifests, and payments.
Reaffirming the stance of the state government, ESIRS Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Nnamani, who spoke to our Correspondent, warned that authorities would not tolerate illegal multiple taxation on residents and drivers.
“These guys are insatiable. They cause government bad names in multiple taxation of residents, and government cannot watch them do that and go free,” Nnamani stated.
“In every e-ticket, the union gets N100, and we pay them 12 per cent as ticket agents, plus 70 per cent of enforcement default tickets. In bus terminals, how on earth will a union charge every vehicle between N4,000 to N8,000 per loading? This is the height of inhuman treatment, and they must limit themselves to the agreement had with the government,” he added.
With both parties holding their ground, commuters across Enugu State face potential transit disruptions as negotiations remain deadlocked.
