Nigeria Railway Corporation Suspends Warri-Itakpe Service As Labour Begins Protest

The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the suspension of services on the Warri – Itakpe route due to the nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). 

A statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the NRC, Olanrewaju Oke, obtained by Arise News, said the agency would likely resume operations on February 29. 

He said, “The NLC and the organized labour is embarking on two days nationwide protest tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday. Therefore, there will be no train operations tomorrow (Tuesday) and next tomorrow (Wednesday). We regret all inconveniences, please, play safe during the protests.

To The General Public

“This is to inform the general public, most especially our esteemed passengers that train operation has been suspended due to the impending nationwide protest by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) slated for Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 of February 2024. The management of Warri – Itakpe train service apologizes for any inconveniences as normal activities are expected to resume on February 29 2024. Thank you for your understanding and patronage.”

It was reported that a last-minute meeting called by the Federal Government to avert the proposed nationwide protest by the NLC has ended in a deadlock.

Present at the closed-door meeting were the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Ministers of Labour, Agric, Finance, Budget and Planning, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Service, as well as representatives of the NLC and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).

The President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, told journalists that the protest will be held on Tuesday.

“The rally goes on,” he said.

When reminded about the advisory issued by the Department of State Services (DSS) on the protest, he said, “It is part of their (DSS) constitutional responsibilities to make sure that the rally is peaceful while we are going to try from our own side to make sure it is peaceful.”

According to him, their list of demands would be submitted to the National Assembly on Tuesday.

“That is all, we have concluded on that. We are not doing rallies for the sake of moving around. We have demands which we must present. Maybe by tomorrow (Tuesday) when we present it at the National Assembly, a copy of it will be made available to journalists.”

Friday Olokor, Abuja 

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