The Cross River State Unified Commercial Drivers Association has dismissed allegations circulating on social media regarding the state government’s free transport scheme.
The union also clarified the state’s ticketing policy, saying Governor Bassey Otu’s ban applies only to out-ban and inter-state drivers, while intra-city commercial drivers are still required to pay the approved ticket fee.
In a statement issued on Friday, the union said claims by one Portrait Peterson that drivers participating in the free transport scheme receive N20,000 daily were false and misleading.
According to the association, each driver participating in the initiative receives N55,000 per day from the state government, with payments made every 14 days during the Easter period and for one month and two days during the December festive season.
The union further stated that since the inception of the programme, the government had not defaulted in paying any driver involved in the exercise.
“The claim that drivers are paid N20,000 daily is false. Every participating driver receives N55,000 per day, and no driver has been owed since the scheme began,” the statement read.
The association also clarified the government’s policy on transport ticketing, explaining that Governor Bassey Otu had banned ticketing for out-bound and inter-state commercial drivers, contrary to claims that the policy remained in force.
It added that ticketing for intra-city commercial drivers was reduced from N700 to N500 as part of efforts to ease the burden on transport operators.
The union explained that the transport sector comprises intra-city, out-bound and inter-state operators, noting that the governor’s directive exempting drivers from ticketing applies only to out-bound and inter-state operators.
It urged members of the public to disregard what it described as misinformation about the transport scheme, reaffirming its support for the Otu administration’s efforts to improve the welfare of commercial drivers and residents through the initiative.