The Nigerian Railway Corporation has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritise the welfare of its workforce and make the work environment safer and friendlier.
The Managing Director of the corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa gave the assurance during a second town hall meeting held in Lagos where the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers and the Senior Staff Workers Union attended.
“Let me assure you that the corporation will continue to prioritise your welfare, 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 have had to resort to borrowing to keep our operations,” he said.
READ ALSO: Corporation Reaffirms Plan to Upgrade Railway Technical Institute
Opeifa commended the workers and said their efforts had continued to sustain the railway operations.
The managing director said the corporation would not hesitate to improve the welfare of its workers as soon as its financial situation improves.
He assured that the corporation management would continue to work with the workers’ unions on all grey areas, saying that under his administration, workers would not need to go on strike to resolve any conflict.
He directed the Human Resources Department to address all workforce concerns.
Hinting at future expansion focus of the corporation, Opeifa said that the railway corporation would soon begin deploying a high-speed train from Lagos to Abuja as part of the expansion.
“This requires more spaces not only for the construction of the corridor but also for more modern quarters for essential workers, he explained.
On the future projections of the management, Opeifa said there were plans to construct a befitting headquarters for the corporation on Murtala Muhammed Way, Ebute-Meta, Lagos State.
The President of the Nigerian Union of Railway, Mr Innocent Ajiji and his Senior Staff Workers Union counterpart, Mr Marcel Okeke, commended the managing director for reforming the corporation.
The two union leaders urged the management to expedite action on the payment of the 95 per cent enhancement benefit to railway workers.
The high point of the event was the presentation of a certificate of excellence and the Managing Director’s Cash Award to 13 workers for exceptional contributions to the corporation’s development in 2025.
