The National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, has endorsed Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal for a second term, praising his administration’s efforts to improve transport infrastructure and support workers across the state.

Also read: Governor Dauda Lawal’s Infrastructure Agenda for Zamfara State

The endorsement was announced on Wednesday at the Dome Pavilion, Government House, Gusau, where the union also presented Lawal with an Award of Excellence in recognition of his leadership and reforms in the transport sector.

NURTW Board Chairman, Dr Najeem Usman Yasin, led the delegation, which included the union’s National President, Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and other senior officials.

Yasin said the union had followed the governor’s achievements during his first three years in office and considered his administration’s progress worthy of recognition.

“We are in Gusau today to appreciate your efforts by presenting you with an Award of Excellence. We feel it is our duty as leaders of the union to find time to come and show the whole world what you have done,” Yasin said.

He described Lawal as “a gift to Zamfara State”, particularly as the state approaches the 30th anniversary of its creation on October 1, 2026.

According to Yasin, the transformation recorded under Lawal’s administration had brought Zamfara closer to what he described as world standards.

He subsequently called on NURTW members across the state to support Lawal’s re-election bid in 2027.

“I want to, on behalf of the NURTW, endorse Governor Dauda Lawal for re-election and also call on all members of the union to support and work towards his re-election in 2027 for the continuation of the good works he has started,” he said.

Lawal expressed appreciation for the recognition and said the endorsement reflected the relationship between his administration and the transport sector.

The governor welcomed Yasin, who served as the first NURTW chairman in Zamfara State after the state’s creation, describing his return to the state as symbolic.

Lawal also acknowledged Akinsanya and the NURTW national leadership for their efforts to reform and professionalise the transport industry.

“I am deeply humbled by the two honours bestowed on me today. First, I accept the Award of Excellence as a recognition of our efforts and a pledge to do more,” Lawal said.

He described the second honour, the endorsement for a second term, as particularly significant because of the union’s grassroots presence.

Lawal said his administration had prioritised the transport sector as part of its broader effort to strengthen the state’s economy and improve the livelihoods of residents.

“When we took leadership, we promised Zamfara State a rebirth. We knew an efficient, safe transport sector was essential for a thriving economy,” he said.

Among the measures highlighted by the governor was the distribution of 50 subsidised mass transit vehicles to NURTW members.

According to Lawal, the initiative was designed to improve the livelihoods of transport workers while making public transportation more accessible to residents.

His administration also renovated the Zamfara State NURTW Council Secretariat, which Lawal said was intended to provide transport workers with a more suitable and dignified working environment.

The endorsement adds a notable grassroots dimension to the political activity already building ahead of the 2027 elections.

For the NURTW leadership, the decision is rooted in its assessment of Lawal’s record during his first term.

For the governor, the recognition provides political momentum as he seeks to secure another term in office.

The development also highlights the growing role of organised transport workers in Nigeria’s electoral politics, given the union’s extensive grassroots networks and interaction with communities across the country.

Also read: Governor Dauda Lawal’s Infrastructure Agenda for Zamfara State

With Zamfara approaching its 30th anniversary as a state, the NURTW’s endorsement has placed Lawal’s transport and infrastructure agenda at the centre of a fresh political conversation about the state’s next phase of development.