Members of the Nigerian Railway Senior Citizens Association, Eastern District, Enugu Wednesday organised a protest against the alleged sale of their official quarters.
Addressing newsmen during the protest, the Chairman of the association, Mr Monday Nnonah, alleged that the action was tantamount to a contempt of a court judgment.
Nnonah said that the body demanded the immediate redeployment of the Zonal Manager, Railway Property Company Limited, Enugu.
The association alleged that the zonal manager sold the quarters “illegally” and “with impunity contrary to a court order”.
It said that the judgment of the Industrial Court was in its favour.
Therefore, demanded that both parties should maintain the status quo, since the matter was pending at the Appeal Court.
Revealed that the protesters carried placards with different inscriptions, such as: “A halt to use of police to intimidate our members”.
“Stop allocation of quarters and back dating of the letters, stop illegal ejection of monetisation beneficiaries.”
“Desist from infringing on rights of our members as contained in the National Industrial Court Judgement on monetisation of Nigeria Railway Quarters”.
The group warned that it should not be held responsible in the event of any breakdown of law and order within premises as a result of the zonal manager’a action.
It further urged the railway management to restrain the railway police from harrasing their members.
It warned that it would not allow anybody into the premises, until the Appeal Court rules on the matter.
Speaking on behalf of the management, the Chief Medical Officer, Nigeria Railway Cooperation, Dr Christian Ijemba, commended the association for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves during the protest.
Ijemba said that some members of management were aware of what was happening, adding that they were not happy about it.
He said that the property manager that was supposed to address the issue was on leave.
He promised to deliver the association’s letter to the appropriate authorities.
Ijemba urged them to be patient, saying that their matter would be resolved “because it is not an ambiguous one”.(NAN)