The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced a four-day mandatory refresher training for all Abuja–Kaduna Train Service staff and confirmed a 95 per cent salary increase to be implemented before the end of 2025.
NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, disclosed the measures in a statement on Sunday following a meeting with AKTS staff at Idu Station. He said the decisions stemmed from an in-house probe into the August 26 derailment, which injured 20 passengers.
Opeifa emphasised that safety remains the NRC’s top priority. He said the refresher training, starting September 22, would reinforce compliance with operational directives and ensure staff are prepared to prevent lapses as services resume.
The NRC boss also reassured workers that their long-awaited salary increment had been approved. He urged locomotive drivers and other staff to avoid strike threats, warning that industrial disputes could undermine national service delivery.
The training and salary review come after a series of reforms, including a management reshuffle effective September 1, which created new offices such as the Customer Service Desk and the Statistician’s Office to strengthen accountability and service efficiency.
Industry analysts say the Abuja–Kaduna route remains one of the NRC’s busiest corridors, making safety and reliability crucial. With the new measures, Opeifa reiterated the corporation’s commitment to building a safer, more efficient, and accountable railway system for Nigerians.
