ILO assists Nigeria in developing the first national OSH Profile
Through the financial and technical support of the ILO, the Federal Government of Nigeria has embarked on the development of a National Occupational Safety and Health Management System.
21 July 2016
Liberia (ILO News) – With the technical assistance of the ILO, Nigeria is taking steps to develop a national Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management System. The move was commended by the Director of ILO Country Office, Abuja, Mr Dennis Zulu.
During a workshop focused on the training of key stakeholders in OSH in Abuja held on 21 July 2016, Dennis Zulu stated that the preparation of a national OSH profile was an essential step for implementing the ILO strategic approach to OSH in line with ILO Convention No. 187.
He viewed a national OSH profile as a diagnostic document which summarizes the existing OSH situation including national data on occupational accidents and diseases, high-risk industries and occupations and a description of the national OSH system and its current capacity. He reaffirmed the commitment of the ILO to work with Government, employers’ organizations, trade unions and other relevant stakeholders to design and implement effective national and enterprise level OSH policies and programmes.
As part of the activities to ensure the successful development of the National Profile on OSH, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, also inaugurated a 15-member Technical Committee, drawn from both public and private sectors to drive the process.
Also present at the workshop were the representatives of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria. In his remarks, the Director of NECA, Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo stated that NECA was pleased with the effort of the Federal Government toward developing a national Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management System through the assistance of the ILO. He commended the ILO for the financial and technical support to Nigeria.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) while acknowledging the contribution of the ILO, stated that the development of a national Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management System will assist in enactment of laws on OSH. Mrs Maureen Onyia, who represented the President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, called for inclusion of the informal sector in the development of the National Profile.
In the same vein, the President of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, represented by Mr. Hassan Ankar stated that the development of a national profile on OSH was a landmark achievement of the government through the support of the ILO and that TUC was committed to working with the government and other key stakeholders to ensure the its success.
In his Keynote address, the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Senator Dr. Chris Ngige stated that the development of a National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) would benchmark safety and health in workplaces in Nigeria.
He regretted that OSH in Nigeria was faced with some challenges that left much to be desired in terms of coverage, credible data, conflicting roles and unhealthy rivalry among the key players. He stated that compliance, for now, was essentially driven by the necessity to comply with the legislations rather than deliberate preventive effort.
The Minister congratulated the members of the National Technical Committee for their nomination into the committee and thanked the ILO immensely for both the financial and technical support provided to ensure the success of the development of the First National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management System.
During a workshop focused on the training of key stakeholders in OSH in Abuja held on 21 July 2016, Dennis Zulu stated that the preparation of a national OSH profile was an essential step for implementing the ILO strategic approach to OSH in line with ILO Convention No. 187.
He viewed a national OSH profile as a diagnostic document which summarizes the existing OSH situation including national data on occupational accidents and diseases, high-risk industries and occupations and a description of the national OSH system and its current capacity. He reaffirmed the commitment of the ILO to work with Government, employers’ organizations, trade unions and other relevant stakeholders to design and implement effective national and enterprise level OSH policies and programmes.
As part of the activities to ensure the successful development of the National Profile on OSH, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, also inaugurated a 15-member Technical Committee, drawn from both public and private sectors to drive the process.
Also present at the workshop were the representatives of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria. In his remarks, the Director of NECA, Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo stated that NECA was pleased with the effort of the Federal Government toward developing a national Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management System through the assistance of the ILO. He commended the ILO for the financial and technical support to Nigeria.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) while acknowledging the contribution of the ILO, stated that the development of a national Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management System will assist in enactment of laws on OSH. Mrs Maureen Onyia, who represented the President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, called for inclusion of the informal sector in the development of the National Profile.
In the same vein, the President of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, represented by Mr. Hassan Ankar stated that the development of a national profile on OSH was a landmark achievement of the government through the support of the ILO and that TUC was committed to working with the government and other key stakeholders to ensure the its success.
Safety and Health at the workplace
In his Keynote address, the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Senator Dr. Chris Ngige stated that the development of a National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) would benchmark safety and health in workplaces in Nigeria. He regretted that OSH in Nigeria was faced with some challenges that left much to be desired in terms of coverage, credible data, conflicting roles and unhealthy rivalry among the key players. He stated that compliance, for now, was essentially driven by the necessity to comply with the legislations rather than deliberate preventive effort.
The Minister congratulated the members of the National Technical Committee for their nomination into the committee and thanked the ILO immensely for both the financial and technical support provided to ensure the success of the development of the First National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management System.