Drivers of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority(LAMATA) on Monday embarked on a partial strike over non-payment of their salaries.

The driver refused to work between 6;am and 9;am to express their grievance inspite the increasing numbers of stranded passenger in the day.

The drivers said they have not been paid in the last two months and most off their colleagues have in the period been laid-off unjustly. The embittered drivers said they cannot continue to work to be silent about it which however led to their strike action.

Thousands of commuters who use the BRT transport system  were however seen stranded during the three hours strike action. Mammoth crowds gathered at Ikorodu garage, Agric bus stop and Ogolonto waiting endlessly in pain.

A visibly frustrated commuter who identified himself as Deji and works at CMS said he had been at the bus stop as early as 6’o’clock and has not gotten a bus three hours after. He wondered what could have happened seeing unusual BRT pack without a single driver during the period.

“I Just want government to please help protect the masses. the suffering in the land is just too much. When drivers go on strike like this the effect is way too much on the masses. I heard that the drivers have not been paid for two months and about 15 drivers were sacked last week among them and that is why they are angry and not ready to work.”

Meanwhile, motorcycle operators popularly known as Okada used the opportunity to make brisk business with inflated prices. They increased their normal fare from Agric bus stop to N1,000, while two passengers were carried for N1,500.

LAMATA officials however confirmed the partial strike but emphisised that  they were on top of the situation when reached.