Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), has assured railway workers that staff welfare will remain a priority despite mounting financial pressures on the corporation.
Speaking at the second Town Hall Meeting held at the NRC headquarters in Ebute Metta, Lagos, Opeifa said the corporation appreciates the commitment and resilience of its workforce, whose efforts have sustained rail operations across the country amid difficult economic conditions.
The meeting was attended by officials of the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers and the Senior Staff Workers Union.
Opeifa acknowledged the corporation’s financial challenges, revealing that rising diesel prices have significantly increased the cost of running train services.
According to him, the NRC is currently operating at a loss and has had to rely on borrowing to sustain operations. “Let me assure you that the corporation will continue to prioritise your welfare. Your efforts have kept the corporation going. However, you must appreciate our precarious financial position,” he said. “The cost of diesel alone has almost made it impossible to operate our trains. We are running at a loss and have had to resort to borrowing to keep our operations running.”
Despite the challenges, he pledged that workers would benefit from improved welfare packages as the corporation’s financial position strengthens.
The NRC boss also reaffirmed management’s commitment to maintaining open communication with labour unions, stressing that industrial disputes would continue to be resolved through dialogue and engagement.
He directed the corporation’s Human Resources Department to address workplace concerns affecting staff productivity and operational efficiency.
Addressing the long-running controversy over the monetisation of NRC residential facilities, Opeifa explained that consultations with labour unions would continue.
He noted that the Federal Government exempted the NRC from the monetisation policy because railway operations require essential personnel to live close to operational locations.
According to him, railway rest houses were designed as operational facilities rather than conventional residential estates.
While labour unions secured a favourable High Court judgment on the issue, Opeifa disclosed that the corporation has appealed the ruling but remains committed to complying with any final court decision. “Though the unions won the monetisation case at the High Court, we have filed an appeal and intend to canvass the reasons for providing the rest houses. Nevertheless, as a law-abiding institution, we shall enforce the judgment of the court,” he said.
Opeifa also unveiled ambitious expansion plans for the railway sector, including a proposed high-speed rail line linking Lagos and Abuja.
He said the project would require additional operational infrastructure and modern accommodation facilities for railway personnel.
The NRC is also planning to rehabilitate key buildings at its headquarters, including the Corporate Planning, Accounts and Audit, and Mechanical Department buildings.
In addition, the corporation plans to construct a new headquarters complex along Murtala Muhammed Way in Ebute Metta, which Opeifa described as a landmark project for the organisation.
