More than 50,000 former railway workers have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in an alleged move by the Nigerian Railway Corporation management to reclaim staff quarters that were designated for sale to occupants under the Federal Government’s 2005 monetisation policy.
The retirees, under the Association of Nigeria Railway Senior Citizens, said the unresolved dispute had caused hardship for thousands of former employees and their families, with some elderly retirees reportedly evicted from homes they had occupied for decades.
At a press conference, Esan urged Tinubu to intervene, describing the lingering dispute as a prolonged injustice against former workers who had devoted their careers to the development of Nigeria’s railway industry.
He explained that the monetisation policy was introduced to reduce the Federal Government’s financial burden of maintaining official quarters, vehicles and domestic staff, while giving eligible serving and retired employees the opportunity to purchase their homes at affordable rates.
Citing the policy, Esan said its objective was “to convert all government quarters to owner-occupier basis by selling them to the legal occupants.”
He added that the policy was intended to guarantee long-term housing security for public servants and their families, especially after retirement.
According to him, the policy had been implemented in several Federal Government institutions, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Ports Authority, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the judiciary.
He questioned why former railway workers had been excluded from the policy despite its implementation across other government institutions.
“Today, judges and staff of the judiciary are proud owners of their former official quarters. Their workers have peace after retirement. And we wonder why the Nigerian Railway Corporation is different. Why are railway workers singled out for punishment by its own management?” he asked.
Esan accused successive NRC administrations of selectively implementing the monetisation policy, alleging that officials benefited from the sale of government vehicles and furniture while excluding staff quarters from the arrangement.
He stated, “The past management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation commenced the implementation of some parts of the monetisation process. They monetised and shared vehicles, official cars, and furniture, paying furniture allowances to themselves. They benefited robustly from the policy.
“But when it came to the most important aspect, the quarters where the poor retirees live, they refused to implement it. This is selective justice.”
The association chairman also alleged that some railway quarters had been secretly sold or leased to third parties, including wealthy individuals and management associates, while former occupants faced eviction.
He said the situation was particularly distressing for elderly retirees and widows who, after years of service, now faced the risk of losing their homes.
According to Esan, the dispute dates back more than two decades and has been the subject of prolonged legal battles.
He recalled that on January 6, 2016, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, under its then President, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, ruled in favour of the retirees in Suit No. NICN/LA/22/2011.
He said the court affirmed the retirees’ entitlement to own the staff quarters under the Federal Government’s monetisation policy.
