Hayatu Ismail Garkuwa, a staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) was on Monday recognised for returning a passenger’s wallet containing $700 and other items.
He was honoured with an award for “Integrity and Exemplary Display of Honesty” during the quarterly town hall meeting where the NRC recognised 20 members of staff, including the Deputy Director Public Affairs of NRC, Mr. Yakub Mahmood, for their exemplary dedication to duty during the just concluded free train ride.
Addressing the staff at the Corporation’s Headquarters on Monday, the NRC’s Acting Managing Director, Mr. Ben Iloanusi, said the action of Ismail Garkuwa represents integrity, honesty and exemplary character which NRC staff is known for.
Garkuwa had on December 28th 2024, found the wallet inside one of the waiting rooms at the Abuja-Kaduna Train Station, Rigasa, and returned it to his superior officers.
The wallet contained $700, some naira notes and ATM cards.
The acting Managing Director presented him with a certificate, cash token as well as a gift item.
He also got recognition from the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the NRC as an anti-corruption ambassador, while the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NUR), also promised to honour the staff for his exemplary conduct.
The Acting MD urged all members of staff to emulate the exemplary conduct of the staff.
He stated that the town hall was much significant as the NRC just recently concluded its free train ride under the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and through the supervision of the Minister of Transportation and the Ministry of Transportation.
He said, “So we just concluded the free train ride and we felt we needed to recognise some of our staff who contributed to the success of the exercise directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. So we started the year with it.
“You could see that we recognised up to 20 people that were instrumental to the success of the free train ride. In particular, we recognised the man that found a wallet containing money. It showed exemplary spirit, he demonstrated a lot of transparency which is what we are about in Nigerian Railway Corporation – Transparency, dignity and we could also see that ICPC also recognised the gentleman. That meant a lot to us as it addresses what we do.”
NRC Director of Administration and Human Resources, Dr. Monsurat Omotayo said the staff including all the Directors, were on their toes all through the yuletide in order to ensure the success of the free train ride.
She said: “We have about 20 people that were recognised. However there was another category which didn’t have to do with train rides, which is something that has been ongoing, just to encourage staff.”
