NRC reaffirms commitment to staff welfare, workplace safety

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving staff welfare and workplace safety as it joined the global community to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work recently in Lagos.

In a statement by the corporation’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Mr Callistus Unyimadu, the Managing Director Dr Kayode Opeifa, described the importance of this year’s theme, “Good psychosocial working environments: A pathway to thriving workers and strong organisations,” as timely and deeply relevant to NRC operations.

Addressing workers ranging from train drivers to administrative staff spread across the country, Opeifa  highlighted the demanding nature of working in the railway sector and the shared responsibility of ensuring passenger safety.

According to him, workers across all the standard gauge routes—Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, Warri-Itakpe, and the narrow gauge lines of Port Harcourt-Aba, Lagos-Kano and Lagos-Ogun and Jos-Kuru—Bukuru Mass Transit Train, play critical roles in mainstreaming safety of the nation’s rail network.

“Nigerians trust us to move them safely, and that trust begins with how safe and supported we feel at work,” he stressed.

Opeifa acknowledged the physical and mental stress associated with railway operations, pointing to long shifts, night duties, and the pressure to maintain strict schedules.

He warned that stress, fatigue, and poor communication could significantly increase safety risks across the system.

ALSO READ: 2027: ‘Not a choice, but an obligation’, Atiku calls for opposition alliance

“A tired driver, a distracted technician, or a demoralized station officer is a risk to the entire rail system,” he noted, underscoring the direct link between employee wellbeing and operational safety.

The NRC boss also referenced feedback gathered from internal safety forums and staff engagement sessions, where workers had raised concerns about heavy workloads, irregular shift patterns, inadequate welfare facilities at remote stations, and instances of poor interdepartmental relations.

Responding to the concerns, Opeifa said that psychosocial safety would now be treated as a central pillar of management’s broader safety strategy.

As part of its 2026 action plan, the NRC boss said the management is committed to improving working conditions and supporting employee wellbeing.