Railway workers unions pledge to work with new MD Opeifa

Railway workers unions pledge to work with new MD Opeifa

 

The two labour unions at the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) say they are prepared to work with the new Managing Director of the corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, to achieve the mandate of President Bola Tinubu for the rail sector.

Leaders of the Nigeria Union of Railway workers (NUR) and Senior Staff Association (SSA) met with the NRC management in Lagos.

Opeifa, who disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday, said the labour leaders passed the resolution after the meeting with the management on Monday, where all their grievances were tabled for discussion.

The MD described the maiden meeting with the workers’ leaders as “productive with mutual understanding of all issues raised”.

He stated that while some matters raised by the unions were assigned for further discussion at directorate level, others such as the medical personnel allowance, were instantly resolved.

He said, “The unions have reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate with the management and provide all necessary support to ensure that train services operate at maximum efficiency, contributing to the growth of rail services in Nigeria as well as reducing the prices of goods and services to achieve Mr. President’s mandate.”

Opeifa expressed happiness at the outcome, adding that with the workforce behind him, he could now begin to work at optimizing railway operations in the country.

He said the management was committed to the welfare of the workers and ensuring that their work as well as living conditions would be adequately catered for under his leadership.

The labour unions had during Opeifa’s resumption indicated their willingness to drop their agitation in deference to the new managing director who they described as a member of the human rights family.

National President of the NUR, Innocent Aji, lauded Opeifa for his frankness.

He appreciated the MD’s willingness to listen attentively to their grievances, adding that the union would hold tenaciously to the promises extracted from him during the meeting.

Corroborating the NUR president, his counterpart at the Senior Staff Association, Marcel Okeke, said their decision to rein in the workers was informed by the human rights pedigree of the new managing director, and his openness during the meeting.

According to Okeke, the union leaders were enamoured by the fact that the managing director was once a comrade, adding that they had no doubt that under him, railway workers would enjoy a new deal and a new lease of life.

They reached the truce just as Opeifa assured them that under him, the NRC management would continue to foster greater collaboration with the unions for the purpose of promoting industrial harmony.