ITC Boils; Franchise Operators, New Mgt At War

Crisis is brewing at the Imo Transport Corporation, as stakeholders in the state owned transport form poise for a showdown as franchise owners are threatening to abandon the Corporation over strained relationship with the consortium of consultancy firm handling the affairs of the firm known as Guinea lana,

The grouse of the franchise workers is coming on the heels of a ruptured relationship between the consultancy firm otherwise and workers over unresolved issues. The franchise workers who own buses and other vehicles on the fleet of the corporation are displeased with new tough measures put in place by the consultancy firm asked to manage the affairs of the corporation for some years by the Okorocha Administration.

The franduee operators lament breach of agreement by the new management and over-flooding of ITC fleet with buses purchased by the firm, a development that has stalled the understanding between the fleet workers and the firm.

Some of the franchise owners who spoke to Imo Trumpeta on condition of anonymity frowned  over the new measure which has now made the franchise partnership with the Corporation less attractive and untidy, stressing that the purpose of the business has been defeated.

According to the Franchice operators, about 300 new buses were brought in to operate in ITC. Even as the identity of the supplier and owner of the buses have not been made public, it was alleged that special preference was given to the operators of the buses against the agreed terms with Franchice operators. While the new buses are given undue attention, the Franchise owners are left at their own peril.

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