NRC worker welfare remains a priority despite financial challenges, Managing Director Kayode Opeifa tells railway employees

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Kayode Opeifa, has assured workers that the corporation will continue to prioritise their welfare and improve workplace conditions despite mounting financial pressures affecting operations.

Also read: NRC Confirms Warri-Itakpe Train Derailment, Assures Safety

Opeifa gave the assurance during a town hall meeting with employees in Lagos, where he acknowledged the challenges facing the corporation while commending workers for sustaining rail services under difficult circumstances.

“Let me assure you that the corporation will continue to prioritise your welfare, but you must appreciate our precarious financial position,” Opeifa told workers.

“The fact is that the cost of diesel alone has almost made it impossible to operate our trains. We are running at a loss, and we had to resort to borrowings to keep our operations.”

Members of the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers and the Senior Staff Workers Union attended the meeting.

The managing director praised employees for their dedication, noting that their commitment had enabled the corporation to continue operating despite financial constraints.

He assured staff that improvements to NRC Worker Welfare would remain a priority and pledged that management would act swiftly once the corporation’s financial position improves.

According to Opeifa, the corporation is committed to maintaining constructive engagement with workers’ unions and resolving disputes through dialogue rather than industrial action.

He directed the Human Resources Department to address workforce concerns and work closely with employees to improve working conditions.

In a significant development, Opeifa announced plans to deploy a high-speed train service between Lagos and Abuja as part of the corporation’s expansion strategy.

“This requires more spaces not only for the construction of the corridor but also for more modern quarters for essential workers,” he said.

The NRC boss also disclosed plans to construct a new headquarters for the corporation along Murtala Muhammed Way in Ebute-Meta, Lagos, as part of broader efforts to modernise the rail agency.

Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers, Innocent Ajiji, and the President of the Senior Staff Workers Union, Marcel Okeke, commended Opeifa for reforms introduced since assuming office.

The union leaders, however, urged management to expedite payment of the 95 per cent enhancement benefit owed to railway workers.

A notable highlight of the event was the recognition of outstanding employees, with 13 workers receiving certificates of excellence and the NRC Managing Director’s Cash Award for exceptional contributions to the corporation’s development in 2025.

Also read: NRC to Resume Warri-Itakpe Train Operations Soon

The awards underscored the corporation’s efforts to motivate staff while navigating operational and financial challenges in Nigeria’s rail transport sector.