By Olanrewaju Adesanya
The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has directed all its senior managers to ensure the protection of railway assets in their jurisdiction in the event that the two labour unions go ahead with their proposed three-day warning strike on Thursday.
The unions, in a letter signed by the President General, National Union of Railway Workers (NUR), Comrade Innocent Ajiji, President Senior Staff Association (SSA NRC branch), Comrade Aliyu Mainasara, and the Secretary-General, NUR, Comrade Segun Esan, who also doubles as Secretary SSA, NRC branch, last Thursday, had threatened to go on a three-day warning strike beginning from Thursday, to press home demand for improved welfare for railway workers.
A meeting scheduled with the Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, last Friday, had ended in a deadlock as both parties held their ground.
In an internal memo by the Managing Director of the Corporation, Engr Fidet Okhiria, which was sighted by our Correspondent on Wednesday, the NRC management asked the Commissioner of Police, Railway Command and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to protect all railway assets from possible destruction should there be a breakdown of law and order during the proposed strike.
The memo directed to Directors, Regional District Managers (RDMs), Coordinators and other Line Managers directed that railway operations be midnight of Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
It stated: “The Regional District Manager (RDMs), Managers and Coordinators should shut down train services 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 Warri/Itakpe Train Service (WITS) trains are to be returned to Agbor in Delta State.
“For Lagos/Ibadan Train Service (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.”
The memo further directed that all revenue collected at the various divisions should be banked by Wednesday 17th of November, 2021, while revenue collected by the evening of Wednesday must be appropriately secured.
It further directed that: “All RDMs, Managers and Coordinators should ensure that all the running sheds and workshop area are properly secured.
“All RDMs, 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.”
Okhiria said though the Board and Management are still meeting to avert the strike, there is need to ensure adequate protection of all national assets of the Corporation.
