ABUJA, NIGERIA – Hon. Bolanle Aminat Sarumi-Aliyu (BASA) has waded into the growing dispute between the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the National Union of Dispatch Riders and Mail Operators of Nigeria (NUDRMON), condemning what she describes as the “duplicative and exorbitant” financial burdens placed on union members, Egalitarian Voice reports.
Hon. Sarumi-Aliyu’s intervention comes as NUDRMON mobilizes its members for a planned one-day protest in Abuja. The union is protesting the introduction of new operational papers being sold by the FCTA, which they argue illegally duplicate the functions and fees of Area Council papers already legitimately purchased by riders for the 2026 operational year.
In a statement released to the press on Wednesday Hon. Bolanle Sarumi-Aliyu described the situation as a classic case of bureaucratic overreach that threatens the livelihoods of thousands of hardworking Nigerians.
“On behalf of the hardworking riders in Abuja, I am calling on the Federal Government to intervene decisively in this matter,” Hon. Sarumi-Aliyu stated. “It is unjust for the FCTA to introduce exorbitant charges that duplicate what riders have already paid to the Area Councils. These are hardworking men who are simply working for their daily pay, navigating the streets of the FCT to provide essential services. In a time like this when things are hard, heaping multiple taxations on them is not only insensitive but counterproductive.”
She emphasized that dispatch riders form the backbone of the rapidly growing logistics and e-commerce sector and should be supported, not stifled.
“We cannot allow a situation where multiple government agencies see these workers as revenue generation tools without regard for the legality or the humanity of the situation,” Hon. Sarumi-Aliyu added. “The Federal Government must step in to streamline these processes, halt this extortion, and ensure that the principle of ease of doing business applies to every Nigerian, including these essential service providers.”
The planned protest highlights the growing frustration among dispatch riders who feel squeezed by overlapping regulatory demands. Hon. Sarumi-Aliyu urged the FCTA to suspend the implementation of the new charges immediately and engage in meaningful dialogue with NUDRMON to find a lasting solution that prioritizes the welfare of the workers over revenue generation.
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Hon. BASA is a dedicated advocate for youth and worker welfare and a voice for good governance in Nigeria.
