In a recent session held on Wednesday, the House of Representatives raised concerns regarding the dismal earnings of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). The revelation surfaced during discussions on the 2024–2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) in Abuja, led by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, chaired by Hon James Faleke.
According to reports by Naija News, the Office of the Accountant General for the Federation disclosed that the NRC remitted only N345 million in income for the fiscal year 2023, covering the period from January to September.
During the interactive session, Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director of the National Research Council, addressed the committee’s concerns. Hon James Faleke, in his remarks, raised the issue of social media footage allegedly showing NRC employees engaging in ticket hawking.
In response to the committee’s inquiries, Okhiria acknowledged the involvement of NRC employees in ticket racketeering, leading to substantial revenue losses. He emphasized that the implementation of e-ticketing had been approved by the government as a solution to this problem.
Okhiria further explained that appropriate actions had been taken against those involved in ticket racketeering, with demotions for minor offenses and dismissals for more serious offenses.
Despite these measures, Faleke expressed reservations about the revenue generated by the NRC, emphasizing the need for corrective actions to ensure a significant contribution to the nation’s finances from the railway corporation.
The revelation of poor earnings and concerns about ticket racketeering within the NRC underscores the challenges faced by the railway sector in Nigeria and the importance of implementing effective solutions to enhance revenue and curb illicit activities among its employees.
