NRC directs officers to protect railway assets, prepares for strike
By Seun Ibiyemi
The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has directed all its senior management workers to ensure the protection of railway assets if the planned strike by the two major labour unions in the corporation goes as planned tomorrow, Thursday.
In an internal memo signed by the Managing Director of the Corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, the Corporation also asked the Commissioner of Police of the Railway Command and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to ensure all railway assets are protected from possible destruction if there is a breakdown of law and order during the proposed strike action.
According to the internal memo which was sighted by the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, “With regards to the impending warning strike action by the two in-house labour unions slated for Thursday, 18th to Saturday, 20th November 2021, the Board and Management has met with the two in-house unions to deliberate and resolve issues, and are still in discussion to avert the proposed warning strike action.
“However, in the event of strike action, you are please requested to do the following to ensure that railway assets are protected adequately.
“The Regional District Manager (RDMs), Managers and Coordinators are to prepare and shut down train services appropriately by midnight of Wednesday, 17th of November 2021.
“The Locomotives and coaches should be moved to a safe place as directed below:
“All AKTS trains are to be returned to Ido in Lagos.
“All WITS trains are to be returned to Agbor in Delta State.
“For LITS, all Ibadan stock are to be stabled at Omi-Adio station in Ibadan.
“While all Lagos stocks are to be stabled at Mobolaji Johnson station.
“All revenue collected should be banked by Wednesday 17th of November, 2021. While revenue collected by the evening of Wednesday are to be secured appropriately.
“All RDM’s, Managers and Coordinators should ensure that all the running sheds and workshop area are properly secured.
“All RDM’s, Managers and Coordinators should also endeavour to alert all private security outfits under their jurisdiction to be on standby to ensure the safety of railway assets.
“The Commissioner of Police and Commandant of the NSCDC are to note the above and deploy their officers and men accordingly.
“This measure is to prevent unforeseen development like violence, vandalisation, stealing, and wanting the destruction of properties amongst other vices.”
Recall that the two labour unions in the NRC, the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) and the Senior Staff Association (SSA) NRC Branch have threatened to shut down train services nationwide over very poor welfare packages of railway workers.
