Rail Workers Task FG On Welfare

As the Federal
Government inaugurates the Eastern Rail Line from Port Harcourt to Enugu, the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) has called for the employment of more manpower, improved living wage and good condition of service for its workers.
The President General of NUR, Comrade Raphael Okoro, made the call in a statement on the side line during the flag-off of the rail line at the Port Harcourt Railway Station last Tuesday.
Okoro said the Federal Government should, through the management of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), ascertain the human resource needs that are required to effectively operate the Eastern line.
According to him, the Eastern line must be used to create job opportunities for unemployed Nigerians, as well as look into how employable Nigerians could be motivated with a living wage and good condition of service so that those engaged would not seek for greener pastures elsewhere, adding that, “Necessary budgetary appropriation should be done too to ensure hitch-free employment exercise for the Eastern line.
The union boss disclosed that the corporation needed more Diesel Multiple Units (DMU’s) passenger coaches, good wagons of various configurations and locomotives in order to achieve enhanced carriage capacity which is a strategy of the corporation to be more financially buoyant and less dependent on government for subventions and budgetary allocations.
Okoro noted that the flag-off of the Eastern rail line would be very useful for the growth of commerce through mass transportation of people and goods.
According to the President General, the impact, enormous social, economic and environmental benefits of an effective rail transport system on the citizenry cannot be over-emphasised, pointing out that it would bring about reduction of journey time, economic efficiency, employment generation, significant economic growth social equity and regenerates urbanisation.
“Beyond the foregoing effective rail transport brings optimal solution to road congestion and save the road mode from dilapidation which digs a gash in the coffers of the government and inspires needless engineering solutions to road network damaged years ahead of its lifespan”, he opined stressing that effective rail transport mode reduced vehicular noise, emission of carbon monoxide, saves lives and property as well as make the roads less busy and less risky to ply.
He thanked the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the on-going rehabilitation of the existing rail transport infrastructure and gradual transformation of the rail transport industry to modernised and standardised rail system, in Nigeria, and assured of their renewed commitment of the workers to give the best rail service to Nigerians.

Collins Barasimeye