The Trade Union Congress (TUC) Women Commission, Nigeria on Saturday in Lagos, inaugurated the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Women Commission Nigeria.
Speaking at the inauguration at the RTEAN Secretariat in Lagos, Mrs Hafsat Shaibu, TUC Women Commission’s National Chairperson, expressed sadness that most women still lacked basic necessities of life and with their rights being trampled upon.
Shaibu, however, noted that some women were making huge success in various fields of endeavours.
“Women should be united in order to organise to face the challenges and issues that confront the present day women and the girl child.
“Women have made laudable progress in politics, sports, engineering sector, education, technology, aviation, mechanical, agriculture, commerce and a lot more.
“We are here to inaugurate the women commission of the RTEAN. I encourage you to come together, speak with one voice, respect one another, love one another and empower women and girls in this society.
“I wish to thank the leadership of RTEAN especially the President for supporting the cause of women,” she said.
According to her, a good number of men still do not believe in women, saying basic amenities of life should be made available to women.
The TUC national chairperson urged the inaugurated RTEAN chapter of the commission to carry all women along in unity and respect while also shunning cheating and selfishness.
She also appealed to women to respect men and carry them along in all activities in order to get the best for women folks.
Also speaking after taking oath of office, Alhaja Funmi Alli Balogun, the National Woman Leader, RTEAN, said that she would devote herself to the service of the union and protection of women.
Alli-Balogun said that with the help of the RTEAN President, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, the inauguration would bring a better life for women in the union.
She said that the leadership of RTEAN had so much respect for women and all women would see the difference.
In his remarks, the National President of RTEAN, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, said that the union had been promoting the cause of women and empowering them.
Mohammed, who was represented by RTEAN’s General Secretary, Alhaji Yusuf Adeniyi, disclosed that the union would continue to assist women to succeed, especially in the sector.
“We are not unmindful of the important roles the women play in the life of a man and we already have women and women drivers in our midst.
“Since our affiliation with the trade union started, this is the first time the women are brought to be commission officially.
“This is the new beginning for our women in the union and they will be fully integrated in all our programmes. We will be targeting empowering them,” the RTEAN boss said.
Mohammed said that he would do everything to impact women, assist them and protect their rights.
He commended the TUC Women Commission Nigeria for its desire at ensuring that women were carried along in all the union’s activities.
“We want to assure you that we will continue to do our best to assure women, whenever necessary, on the path of growth,” he added.
In his good-will message, Alhaji Abdulrahman Amusan, RTEAN National Publicity Secretary, said that the union was ready to give all necessary support to help women achieve their goals in the transport sector.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event was attended by women delegates from some the states of the federation who were also decorated as RTEAN Women leaders in their respective states.
NAN
