In a landmark ruling from the National Industrial Court in Kano, Justice Mahmood Namtari delivered a decisive blow to the Kano State Tipper Drivers Association, declaring it illegal to operate as a trade union without proper registration under the Trade Unions Act.
The court issued a permanent injunction barring association chairman Ado Umar, secretary Malami, and their allies—including Dahiru (Sola), Mukhtar, and Idris—from bullying tipper and truck drivers at quarry sites. No more forceful ticket sales, levy collections, or arm-twisting to join their ranks. These tactics had encroached on the turf of the legitimate Union of Tipper and Quarry Employers of Nigeria (Kano Chapter), the only group authorized to regulate haulage operations.
The union had sued, arguing the association was a fake union masquerading as a welfare group, illegally issuing tickets, demanding fees, and disrupting lawful quarry work across Kano State. The association fired back, claiming their freedom of association allowed them to protect members’ interests without crossing into union territory.
Justice Namtari wasn’t buying it. He ruled that registration is non-negotiable for any group handling labor activities like ticketing or levies. Freedom of association doesn’t grant a free pass to hijack statutory powers. The association’s actions? Straight-up unlawful interference.
This victory cements the Union of Tipper and Quarry Employers as Kano’s sole regulator for quarry haulage, restoring order to an industry plagued by turf wars.