We will continue to prioritize railway workers welfare, says Opeifa

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, has pledged that the Corporation would continue to prioritize the welfare of its workforce and make the work environment safer and friendlier.

Dr Opeifa, who lauded the hard work and resilience of the corporation’s workers, made this pledge at the second Town Hall Meeting at the Corporation’s Headquarters, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

The two workers unions – the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers, and the Senior Staff Workers Union – attended the meeting.

He said the efforts of the workers have continued to keep the railway operations going.

“Let me assure you that the Corporation would continue to prioritize your welfare. Without any doubt, your efforts have kept the corporation going. But you must appreciate our precarious financial position. The fact is that the cost of diesel alone has almost made it impossible to operate our trains. We are running at a loss and we had to resort to borrowings to keep our operations,” he told the workers.

He however assured that if the situation improves and the corporation’s revenue rebounds, he would not hesitate to improve on the workers’ welfare.

He assured that he would continue to work with the workers’ unions on all gray areas adding that under him, workers would not need to go on strike action to resolve any dispute.

He directed the Human Resources Department to immediately address all areas of concerns affecting the efficiency of the workforce.

On the issue of monetization, Dr Opeifa said the management would continue to engage the unions on the position of the Federal Government which after realizing the peculiarity of the corporation, had pulled it back from the monetization drive instituted over two decades ago.

He said the idea behind the building of rest houses for its staff is not to build housing estates but to provide places of abode for essential operational staff, who would have need of living close to their operational bases in the overall interest of Nigerians.

“Though the unions won the monetization case at the High Court, we have filed an appeal, and the intention is to canvass the reason for the provision of the rest houses. We shall continue to engage with all stakeholders regarding this matter in the overall interest of what is best for the corporation. However, as law abiding citizens, we shall enforce the judgment of the court,” Dr Opeifa said.

Hinting at future expansion focus of the corporation, the Managing Director said work would soon commence on the construction of a speed train, from Lagos to Abuja. This, according to him would require more space not only for the construction of the corridor, but more modern quarters for the essential workers that would power its operations. These among others are the reason why the Federal Government pulled the NRC back from the monetization policy implementation, he said.

On the future projections of the management, Dr Opeifa said there are plans to embark on the rehabilitation of the Corporate Planning building, as well as the Accounts/Audit and Mechanical buildings, within the headquarters.

He also disclosed plans to embark on the construction of a befitting headquarters of the Nigerian Railway Corporation at the Murtala Muhammed Way, Ebute-Metta. The edifice when completed would be a reference point in the annals of the corporation.

Earlier, the NUR President, Comrade Innocent Ajiji, and his Senior Staff Workers Union counterpart Comrade Marcel Okeke, lauded the Managing Director Dr Kayode Opeifa, for reforming the Corporation.

The two union leaders urged him, to expedite action on the commitment of the Federal Government to pay Railway Workers 95% enhancement benefit.

The highpoint of the event was the presentation of certificates of excellence and MD’s cash awards to 13 workers drawn from across the corporation’s operational divisions and directorates for their exceptional dedication, and contributions to the overall development of the corporation in the year 2025.