Railway workers on Thursday converged on Enugu for a thanksgiving following a judgment by the National Industrial Court granting them the right of first refusal to buy their official quarters.

The workers had challenged the management of the Nigeria Railways Corporation for failing to comply with the requirements of the monetisation policy of the Federal Government which provided for the sale of its residential houses nationwide.

The jubilant workers sang and danced while the thanksgiving service, ministered by Rev. Sam Igwe of the Anglican Church lasted.

The President of the Africa Railway Workers Union, Mr Ralph Okoro, assured the workers that their national union had worked out a mortgage arrangement to enable them to purchase the houses.

Okoro called on the management of the corporation to value the quarters without further delay as the workers were ready to pay for them.

He said that other parastatal agencies, ministries and departments complied with the circular on monetisation while the railway management refused to comply.

Okoro said that the union went to court on March 15, 2011 and that the court gave judgment in their favour on Jan. 5, 2016.

Also speaking, the Secretary General of the Railway Workers Welfare Union, Mr Segun Esho, said that the occasion was organised to give thanks to God for His favour concerning their legal action.

Esho urged the workers to remain calm while appealing to them to keep faith with the leadership of the union on the way forward.

In his sermon, Igwe said that the problem of the railway workers came from the board as most of its members compromised on issues. (NAN)

•Photo shows Transportation Minister Chibuike Amaechi.