Federal Capital Territory (FCT) bus conductors on Thursday expressed readiness to dignify their job and support the establishment of Bus Conductor Association of Nigeria (BCAN) nationwide.
The conductors insisted that the establishment of the association would checkmate the activities of touts and dignify their job.
Some of them who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews said that forming an association for conductors was a good initiative.
A conductor, Monday Aliyu said that in FCT, the services of conductors were mostly in the motor parks, adding that touts had already taken over their business.
He said that the activities of those touts in the name of conductors had made so many commercial drivers to avoid picking passengers at the motor parks instead they would pick passengers along the road.
“Having a conductors association is a very good idea. The Lagos government is already supporting them and it will be very nice if it is operational in Abuja.
“There are no conductors like that in Abuja, only few in the parks and they are called `agbaro’.
“So if the association will register and organise the conductors in a way that no touts will be able to operate again, it will be great,’’ he said.
Another conductor, Ishola Kareem said that the idea of making bus conducting formal was a welcome development.
Kareem, however, said the establishment of the association would also help to reduce crime and criminality, usually perpetrated by the “bad eggs’’ or touts.
NAN reports that BCAN members have undergone series of training under the Lagos State Government and the association was officially affiliated with Trade Union Congress (TUC) on April 27.
The Lagos State Government planned to launch the wearing of uniforms, name tags and badges to enforce decorum and ensure safety of duly registered members and members of the public.
The official launching of BCAN Lagos chapter will be held on Thursday Aug. 3 in Lagos. (NAN)
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