Workers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a technocrat who knows a lot about the railway as the Minister of Transport.
The Secretary General, Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Segun Esan said on Sunday that the rail transport sub-sector required a technocrat who would support its sustainable development.
He commended the President for fulfilling his promises to stamp out corruption from the nation, and urged him to invest the gains of anti-corruption drive in the railway sub-sector.
According to him, a well-developed and effectively managed railway system will reduce the carnage on the roads, strengthen the integration of the nation and stimulate socio-economic growth and the quality of life of the citizenry.
Esan said, “As Nigerians await the appointment of ministers by Buhari, it becomes very necessary to appeal to the President to appoint as minister a technocrat who understands the economic importance and relevance of the rail transport system to the development of the nation.
“Railway development has to continue if we are really keen on achieving any meaningful development of our nation. Up till now, the Nigerian Railway Corporation cannot boast of having up to 30 effectively working locomotive engines, which are the fulcrum of rail transport business.
“The corporation still lacks passenger coaches and goods wagons to really meet the growing market share of the traffic offer available to it. Now that the anti-corruption campaign is being vigorously pursued and yielding practical results.”
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