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Breaking: Reprive as railway workers call off strike

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Nigerian railway workers have called off their warning strike less than 48 hours after embarking on a nationwide three-day industrial action.
The decision to end the strike was taken after the leaders of the Nigeria Railway Workers Union (NUR) and the Senior Staff Association had met in Abuja with the board of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Federal Ministry of Transportation and the NRC management.
This is contained in a communique issued on Friday jointly signed by Innocent Ajiji (for NUR), Aliyu Mainasara (SSA) and Dr Monsurat Omotayo (NRC management), a copy of which was obtained by Newstrends from the union.
Earlier, Managing Director of the NRC, Engr Fidet Okhiria, had appealed to the workers to return to work, saying their demands were receiving accelerated consideration.
Part of the resolutions is that a committee be immediately set up to review the workers’ condition of service.
It was also agreed that all train crew members should be given insurance cover along with the passengers and the goods in transit.
Okhiria said during a press conference in Lagos on Friday that the Federal Government through the National Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission (NSIWC) had almost concluded the process of increasing the workers’ salaries.
He said, “The workers are on three-day warning strike. The management met with them several times, the board met with them and the Minister even met with them and we thought issues have been resolved, only to come back and say they are going on warning strike.
“As they are on strike, we are still discussing with them. We are working hard to make sure that they come back as soon possible. In communication, the way people understand it is different from others.
“So we are now talking to them to understand with us and understand with government and let them cut short the warning strike. Who is government? We are all government and it would not be proper, that now that the government is bringing us to limelight, we use our hands to disrupt what the government is doing.
We can see the attention railway is getting now. Six, four, five years back, that attention was not there. The attention is there because government is putting efforts to make sure railway is viable in Nigeria.
“Money is not everything. People and joy and what we provide for humanity override money. So we will work so that their welfare would be better off, for all Nigerians, not just railway workers.”
The workers had commenced the strike on Thursday, demanding an increase in salary and better welfare package. They also protested at Idu Station in Abuja on Thursday.
The NRC had earlier ordered the suspension of train services between Abuja and Kaduna, Lagos and Ibadan, and Warri due to the strike.

See the communique below

COMMUNIQUE OF RESOLUTIONS MADE AFTER THE MEETINGS WITH THE NRC BOARD IN ABUJA AND ANOTHER WITH THE FMOT, NRC MANAGEMENT, AND THE LEADERSHIP OF NUR & SSA IN IKEJA LAGOS ON FRIDAY, 19TH NOVEMBER 2021 OVER THE WORKERS’ AGITATION FOR ENHANCED SALARY REGIME; IMPROVED WELFARE, ET AL

The followings are the resolutions made between the above captioned parties:

i. 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;

ii. 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;

iii. it has been agreed that all the train crews be given insurance cover as the train passengers and the goods in transit;

iv. 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;

v. 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;

vi. 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.

Signed
Comr. Aliyu Mainasara
PG, SSA

Signed
Comr. Innocent L. Ajiji
PG NUR

Signed
Dr. Mrs. Monsurat O. Omotayo
Director Admin/HR
For: NRC management

Railway

Niger State duscusses intracity railway to link Abuja with Chinese firm

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Niger State duscusses intracity railway to link Abuja with Chinese firm

Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has held a meeting with a delegation from the China Railway Corporation in Minna, the state capital.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Communications, Abdullberqy Ebbo, disclosed this in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday.

According to Ebbo, during the meeting, they discussed working out a partnership to establish a railway network that would span the state’s three geopolitical zones as well as Abuja.

The statement read, “Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, hosted a delegation from the China Railway Corporation in Minna, Niger State.

“The corporation, renowned for constructing China’s extensive railway network, discussed working out a partnership to establish a railway network across three geopolitical zones in the state and Abuja.

“The meeting also delved into potential collaborations in various sectors, including agriculture, housing, and the construction of airline hangars and the Cango terminal at Bola Tinubu International Airport Minna.

“With plans to solidify the partnership, the delegation is set to draft a Concept Note and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a business relationship with the state.

“The ambitious project is anticipated to be funded through the China Exim Bank, marking a significant step towards improving transportation infrastructure and economic growth in Niger State.”

PUNCH reported in October 2023 that the Chinese government expressed its commitment to refinance and complete the Abuja-Kano and Port- Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects.

In February 2024, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also had a meeting with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in Beijing, China, to finalise plans on the state’s rail projects.

-The PUNCH

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Vandals destroy rail track in Kaduna community

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Vandals destroy rail track in Kaduna community

Vandals have destroyed a rail track at Chidunu village in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The hoodlums taking advantage of high rate of insecurity in the area stormed the village and reportedly loaded their three trucks with track materials forcefully removed from the rail.

Public Relations Officer for the Northern District of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Alhaji Abdullahi, in a statement on Monday, said two of the truck were stopped and impounded by security agents.

However, a Canter truck driver absconded with a portion of the stolen materials.

Some of the vandals were also apprehended by security operatives around the community.

Abdullahi highlighted the logistical challenges with the urgency to act before nightfall and the volatile nature of the area.

“It was difficult to arrange for logistics to evacuate track rails and sleepers before it got dark,” he said, emphasizing the collaborative efforts with local vigilantes and hunters to bolster surveillance along the affected railway stretch.

“We received a report on Sunday that the vandals were arrested during their illicit operation with two long trucks loaded with rail track materials,” Abdullahi said.

He added that the case has been handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for further investigation.

“The case is at present with the NSCDC, O.C. Anti-Vandal for further investigation,” Abdullahi stated.

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Railway

UK firm to build PH-Enugu-Abuja standard rail line – FG

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UK firm to build PH-Enugu-Abuja standard rail line – FG

The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Messrs MPH Rail Development Limited, a United Kingdom company for the construction of the Port Harcourt–Enugu–Calabar–Abuja Standard Gauge Rail Line.

The project when completed will be operated under a public-private partnership framework.

These details are contained in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and published on its website.

Under the MoU, the UK firm will manage the design, construction, commissioning, operation and eventually transfer to the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

The ministry stated that the MoU signing followed the approval of the Outline Business Case and the issuance of a compliance certificate by the Infrastructure, Concession, and Regulatory Commission.

This clearance allows Messrs MPH Rail Development (UK) Limited to focus on assembling the necessary documents for the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval to proceed with the project.

Some of the essential documents for advancing this initiative are listed as a comprehensive feasibility study report, a full Business Case Study, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, the production of a Resettlement Action Plan, and the design of a Financial Model to implement the project.

This would ensure transfer of the line to the Federal Government under a PPP arrangement without incurring loans or debts for the Nigerian government or its agencies.

At the MoU signing ceremony, Alkali pledged the ministry’s support for the successful implementation of the project.

He emphasized the importance of diligent preparation and submission of all requisite documents to expedite FEC’s approval.

The statement read in part, “As part of the initiative to consolidate the ongoing railway modernisation projects consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Presidential Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, the Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali, has executed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Transportation with Messrs MPH Rail Development (UK) Limited to enable the company to carry out the design, construction, commissioning, operation and transfer of the Port Harcourt–Enugu–Calabar–Abuja Standard Gauge Rail Line on Public – Private Partnership basis.”

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