Senate Calls for Reinstatement of Dismissed NRC Employee

The Nigerian Senate has overturned the termination of Engr. Aniekan Paddy Ukpe from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

On a recent Tuesday, the Senate directed the NRC to reinstate Ukpe, who was let go in March 2023.

Furthermore, the Senate instructed that he receive all owed benefits, underscoring that there was no proof of his involvement in the acts of sabotage against railway infrastructure in his jurisdiction.

Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), the chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, spotlighted this case during the session.

The issue stemmed from a report by Imasuen, arising from a petition where Ukpe claimed that his dismissal was unjust.

Engr. Ukpe explained that he was serving as the Senior Civil Engineer for the North Central District, which encompasses Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa states.

He detailed an incident of vandalism involving railway tracks that occurred on September 19, 2022, at Kamuru Station located in Zonkwa, Kaduna State.

After becoming aware of this vandalism, Ukpe promptly communicated the issue to his District Manager and lodged a formal report with local law enforcement.

This led to the arrest of the individuals responsible, with two receiving two-year prison sentences.

Instead of recognition for his actions, however, Ukpe reported that the District Manager accused him of failing to report the incident adequately.

As a result, Ukpe received an official query and his case was sent to an investigative panel.

He argued that the panel’s findings were biased and marred by contradictions, which ultimately led to his dismissal without a fair hearing.

The NRC, represented by its Managing Director, Engr. (Dr.) F.E. Okhiria, justified Ukpe’s firing by claiming he did not report the incident in a timely manner and lacked urgency in managing the situation.

The corporation insisted that Ukpe’s actions violated the Railway General Rules of 1964, which warranted his termination.