OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has begun a comprehensive review of more than 150 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as part of efforts to strengthen railway safety, improve operational efficiency and enhance service delivery across the country's rail network.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day Executive Standard Operating Procedure Review and Familiarisation Retreat in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said the exercise underscores the corporation's commitment to institutionalising best practices and improving accountability throughout its operations.
Represented by the Head of the Business Process Efficiency and Due Diligence (BuPED) Desk, Mr. Oyekunle Oyewole, Opeifa said the revised procedures would standardise operational processes, reduce risks and establish clear lines of responsibility across the organisation.
He described standard operating procedures as practical working documents rather than bureaucratic requirements, stressing that they provide staff at every level with clear guidance on their duties, responsibilities and expected standards of performance.
According to him, effective implementation of the revised procedures would strengthen operational efficiency, improve safety and align the corporation's activities with international railway best practices.
He urged directors and other participants to critically evaluate the existing procedures, identify operational gaps and develop practical solutions that would support the modernisation of Nigeria's railway system.
The retreat, which commenced aboard the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service conference coach en route to Abeokuta, brought together directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, management staff and members of the Business Process Efficiency and Due Diligence team.
In his opening address, Oyewole disclosed that the corporation was reviewing more than 150 operational procedures aimed at building a more efficient and effective organisation.
He said greater collaboration among departments would enhance teamwork and support the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
The Managing Director's Technical Adviser on Train Operations, Mr. Adeife Akin Olukolade, described the SOP as a living document that should be continuously updated to reflect the evolving nature of railway operations.
Drawing on more than two decades of railway experience across three continents, he said codifying the procedures would usher the corporation into a new era of operational excellence.
Also speaking, the Director of Operations, Mr. Akin Oshinowo, said the review would help reduce operational incidents, improve efficiency, ensure consistency in service delivery and strengthen compliance with established standards.
He added that management would provide the necessary support for the effective implementation of the revised procedures and embed them within the corporation's operational culture.
The Director of Administration and Human Resources, Dr. Monsurat Omotayo, presented the first technical paper at the retreat, highlighting the importance of continuous staff training, effective leadership, a strong culture of compliance and performance measurement in ensuring successful implementation of the SOPs.
During an interactive session, participants called for strict compliance with the procedures by all categories of staff.
The Director of Civil Engineering and New Lines, Engr. Adekunle Ayeni, stressed that behavioural change, effective consequence management and a balanced system of rewards for compliance and sanctions for violations would be critical to the successful implementation of the revised procedures.
The Managing Director's Special Adviser on Media and Strategic Communication, Mr. Adeyinka Aderibigbe, described the retreat as a landmark initiative, expressing confidence that the final document would become a benchmark for railway operators and service providers across the industry.
Also contributing, the Deputy Director of Finance, Alhaji Abdullah, said the review process was unique because it had produced, for the first time, a comprehensive operational document developed through the collective input of key departments within the corporation.
The review covered operating procedures for the Corporate Planning, Medical, Finance, Legal, Internal Audit, Information and Communications Technology, Procurement, Operations and Commercial, Civil Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Signal and Telecommunications, and Human Resources departments.
Closing the retreat, Omotayo commended participants for their contributions and urged them to sustain the momentum as the corporation moves from the review stage to full implementation of the revised operational procedures.
No comments:
Post a Comment