The Oyo State House of Assembly has taken a bold step towards protecting thousands of commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in the state, following a motion moved by Hon. Yusuf Adebisi, representing Ibadan South West I constituency.
At the plenary sitting held Thursday, Hon. Adebisi decried the growing exploitation of riders under the current hire purchase system, describing it as a form of modern-day slavery.
He noted that many operators are trapped in unfair agreements with private dealers, paying exorbitant amounts far above the actual cost of the tricycles and motorcycles, with harsh consequences for default.
“The average rider ends up paying two to three times the cost of the vehicle, and in many cases, even after completing payments, their ownership is not guaranteed. This House must not fold its arms while our youths and breadwinners are subjected to such oppressive arrangements.”
The motion, which received overwhelming support from members, called on the executive arm of government to investigate the activities of hire purchase operators across the state and initiate regulatory frameworks to ensure fairness and transparency in their dealings.
Hon. Adebisi also proposed that the Ministry of Transport and other relevant agencies develop affordable and rider-friendly alternatives, possibly in partnership with cooperatives, microfinance banks, or government-backed credit schemes.
In their contributions, lawmakers emphasized the need to protect the livelihoods of commercial riders who contribute significantly to the state’s economy and provide critical transport services, especially in urban and semi-urban areas.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, commended Hon. Adebisi for the timely motion and announced the composition of an ad-hoc committee tobe headed by Hon. Rahman Cephas Olorunpoto representing Oyo East/Oyo West.
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