The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has assured the general public, especially its customers of a smooth resumption of train services nationwide as railway workers call off their warning strike.
According to a Press Statement made available to Transport Day, “the warning strike is hereby called off to pave way for the commencement of train services immediately as contained in the joint communiqué signed by the management and the unions”.
Expressing concern for any inconveniences train passengers may have experienced during the strike, the NRC stated that “AK3 will depart Idu train station at 09.30am, subsequently, KA6, AK7, KA8, AK9 and KA10 will follow as scheduled in the current train timetable.
“Lagos-Ibadan train services will resume at 1pm from both Lagos and Ibadan train stations. Meanwhile, the Warri-Itakpe train station also begins as follows: WITS 01 and 04 leave gbor train station at 09.20am to Itakpe and WITS 02 and 03 leave Agbor train station to Ujevwu at 11.50am both trains commence according to the current timetable”.
It would be recalled that workers under the aegis of the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NUR) and the Senior Staff Association (SSA), NRC Branch had embarked on a warning strike 2 days ago.
The workers who had earlier on Thursday morning embarked on a 3-day warning strike called off the strike after some series of agreements with the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT) and the NRC management.
In a communique co-signed on Friday by the President General of the SSA, Comrade Aliyu Mainasara; President General of the NUR, Comrade Innocent Ajiji and Director, Admin/HR of the NRC, Dr. Mrs. Monsurat Omotayo the workers announced that a committee has been set up to review the standard condition of service of all railway workers.
According to the communique which was made available to Transport Day, “the following are the resolutions made between the NRC, NUR and SSA, NRC Branch today, 19th of November, 2021:
“A committee has been set up with immediate effect on the review of the standard condition of service with timeline lasting to the 31st day of January 2022;
“It has been agreed that the personal data on deceased workers be collected for processing for immediate payment as every worker is already covered by the group life assurance scheme;
“It has been agreed that all the train crews be given insurance cover as the train passengers and the goods in transit;
“Enhanced salary regime has been taken up as a priority by the NRC Board and FMoT with a view to securing approval for implementation in the earliest time possible;
“It has been agreed that no member of staff shall be victimized as a result of his/her participation in the 3-day industrial action of November 2021;
“By this communique and foregoing resolutions, the 3-day warning strike action is hereby suspended. Therefore, workers are hereby directed to resume work with immediate effect.”
