Railway Corporation To Shut Down Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan, Warri Train Services In Warning Strike

A three-day warning strike by workers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is to hold from November 18th to November 20th.

This information was contained in an internal memo issued on Tuesday by the Managing Director of NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria.

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The memo instructed district managers to be prepared to shut down train stations plying Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe routes in the event that workers down tools.

The memo alerted all district managers and relevant officers of the need to protect railway assets in the event the strike goes ahead.

A letter titled, “Notice and Directive to embark on 3-day warning strike nationwide,” dated November 12th, had been addressed by the District Chairman/Secretary Nigeria Union of Railway workers and Senior Staff Association.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi had invited the labour unions to a meeting on Saturday but it ended in a deadlock.

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However, Okrikha said if no truce is reached, train service should be shut down with effect from Wednesday night.

The memo read, “The RDMs, managers and coordinators are to prepare and shut down train services appropriately by midnight of Wednesday, 17th November 2021.”

The memo also directed the officials to move all locomotive and coaches for Abuja-Kaduna, Warri-Itakpe and Lagos-Ibadan train services to safe places.

The MD further directed that all revenue collected should be banked by Wednesday.

“All RDMs, managers and coordinators should ensure that the running sheds and workshop areas are property 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 memo added.

General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NUR), Comrade Segun Esan, in a chat with Daily Trust last night said the mobilization for the warning strike had been massive, adding there was no going back.

“The strike starts on midnight of this Wednesday prior to the dawn of Thursday 18/11/2021. The mobilization for the strike is unprecedented and the entire NRC workers are top gear for the warning strike,” he said.

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