The Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has called on trade and labour unions to partner governments for the attainment of economic growth in the country.

Governor Ahmed made the call in Ilorin on Tuesday when the newly-elected Executive Council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) paid him a courtesy visit.

The Governor noted that virile unions like the NURTW must play critical roles in National development as it requires collective effort to achieve the desired objectives.

“NURTW has a critical role to play in building Nigeria as a country; we have critical roles to play because by the very nature of our activities we have social and economic and of course political roles to play in driving the system”, the governor said.

Dr Ahmed described NURTW as one of the most important unions in the country as its members are in charge of the movement of goods and services which he described as germane to economic development.

He said the NURTW’s role in ensuring easy movement of goods and services was commendable and emphasized that his administration remains committed to its road development programme, particularly the Operation No Pothole and the extension of urban and rural road networks.

The Chairman of NURTW, Alhaji Aliyu Isa Ore, said with membership strength of 41,922, the Union was the second largest employer of labour apart from the State government.

Alhaji Ore said NURTW contributes about N140m yearly to the Internally Generated Revenue of the state government through the payment of renewal fees for motor particulars.

The Chairman said the Union has zero tolerance for thuggery and all forms of violence and pledged that its members would not do anything that could disrupt the peace in the State.