Building a culture of prevention on occupational safety and heath in Nigeria

Abuja (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO), its tripartite partners and other stakeholders in Nigeria have celebrated the 2015 World Day for Safety and Health at work with calls on government, employers and workers to provide enabling environment for building a culture of prevention on Occupational Safety and Health.

The theme for the 2015 World Day for Safety and Health at work is “Join in Building a culture of prevention on occupational safety and health”. The celebration which offered an opportunity for the ILO constituents and stakeholders to examine progress made and the challenges facing Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) issues in Nigeria also featured an interactive workshop and speeches by the ILO and its constituents.

On behalf of the ILO, Mr. Dennis Zulu, urged Nigeria to ratify and domesticate relevant ILO conventions, review and sign into law the Occupational Health and Safety which was submitted to National Assembly in 2005. According to the ILO, the International Labour Standards along with relevant laws and policies would give impetus to the promotion of safety at work.

For Nigeria workers, occupational safety concerns are not limited to workplace accidents only, but include a wider question of insecurity which include road accidents, acts of terrorism, insurgency and kidnappings on the way to and from work and at workplace .

A culture of prevention must be founded on the engagement of partners and their constructive dialogue with the consolidation of occupational safety and health achievements.

In his welcome address, Dr. Clement Illoh, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity (FMLP), stated that the ministry, in line with its mandate in Occupational Safety and Health at work, has recently made some restructuring to give special focus on preventive culture in Occupational Safety and Health.

In his keynote address, Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity, stated that government was committed now more than ever before to promote a national occupational safety and health culture in which the right to a safe and healthy working environment is respected at all levels, where governments, employers and workers actively participate in securing a safe and healthy working environment.

According to Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), the theme “Join in Building a culture of prevention on occupational safety and health” was very relevant because any disregard of prevention could lead to devastating consequences such as avoidable loss of property, production time and even life.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) called for adequate compensation if an accident happens and advocates for full extension of coverage of employee injury insurance to all workers.