Workers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), yesterday, issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to negotiate on how to replace their demolished offices, workshops and quarters or face legal action.
They claimed that they lost property and equipment worth over N21 billion when the state, as part of its urban renewal programme, last week, demolished residences and businesses premises on 30,000 square meters of land at Holy Ghost, Ogui. Also demolished were a school and banks.
Commissioner for Transport, Obi Ozor, had said the area was mapped for the development of modern motor parks. He stressed that the state government paid “adequate compensation to legal occupants through the NRC,” which, he said, was the original owner of the land. He also maintained that due process was followed in acquisition of the area.
But placard-wielding NRC workers, yesterday, protested the demolition, accusing the state government of impunity and disregarding due process in carrying out the action. They insisted there was no negotiation with the government, and listed quarters occupied by workers, training school and workshops as part of the property demolished illegally.
Some of the placards read: ‘Governor Mbah, urban development is not blood pressure and death; is demolition of railway offices in your manifesto? Be a democratic leader and not an autocrat; you must pay compensation on our demolished quarters; replicate our demolished workshop, training school, civil engineering yard; we will not allow you send us out of work; Governor Mbah, development must be with a human face.’
Addressing journalists at the site of the demolition, National President, Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NURW), Innocent Luka Ajiji, said it was unacceptable and outrageous. He said the state government did not negotiate with the NRC management or the workers’ union before embarking on the exercise.
He insisted there was no truth to claims by the state government that it had a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Railway Property Company concerning the demolished property and had paid compensation to it.
