Railway Workers Embarks 3-Day Warning Strike In Lagos

Workers of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, (NRC) have embarked on a three-day nationwide strike over poor welfare.

In Lagos, all train services have been shut down, leaving passengers stranded.

The Nation reports angry railway workers turned back passengers on Thursday morning.

When The Nation visited the Mobolaji Johnson Train Station in Ebute-Metta Lagos, the aggrieved workers were seen displaying placards.

Ticket points, entry points, other offices were under lock and keys.

But site workers were seen at Nigeria Railway Lagos-Ibadan project (Lagos station) carrying out construction activities.

A cardboard at the entrance of the Ebutte Metta train station reads:”Notice: Please be informed that the train services from Lagos to Ibadan would not be available from 12:00 midnight of 17th of November to 12:00 midnight of Nov 20, due to in-house strike”

The National Union of Railway Workers and the Senior Staff Association for the Statutory Corporation and Government-Owned Company (SC GOC) had in a circular addressed to the unions’ District Chairmen and Secretaries in Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Zaria, Minna, Bauchi, Kafanchan, others last week, directed them to embark on strike.

The three-day warning strike, which began on Thursday will end on Saturday, November 20, 2021.

According to the Union, the planned strike is to send a warning signal to the right quarters to heed to their demands for improved welfare and standard condition of service.

An official, who spoke with The Nation at the Ebutte Metta train station said, the action may be followed with a protracted strike plan.

Passengers, who arrived at the station without knowing the situation on ground, expressed dissatisfaction with the shutdown of activities, urging the government to answer the demands of the workers.