The Federal Government has called on the newly elected executive of the National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria (NISCN) to prioritise raising awareness on the effective management of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).
The Director of OSH at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mrs. Lauretta Adogu, made the appeal at the Annual General Meeting and Executive Committee Election of NISCN on Wednesday in Abuja.
Adogu emphasised the importance of ensuring widespread awareness across both the public and private sectors by engaging key stakeholders. She underscored the council’s mandate to highlight the magnitude of work-related issues in Nigeria and urged the newly elected executives to actively promote a preventative OSH culture to help reduce workplace accidents, injuries, diseases, and fatalities.
She noted that effective OSH management could be achieved through the implementation of the Revised National Policy on OSH, aligning with International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 155 on OSH and Convention 187 (2006) on the Promotional Framework for OSH.
Adogu also highlighted the role of NISCN as a tripartite national body comprising government representatives, employers’ associations, and workers’ unions, all working towards advocating workplace safety.
“The Ministry of Labour and Employment, through its Occupational Safety and Health department, is responsible for enforcing OSH laws in workplaces while also promoting preventative measures against work-related accidents, diseases, and fatalities,” she stated.
According to her, the OSH department supervises and coordinates NISCN’s activities, ensuring its effectiveness in advocacy and advisory services for both the public and private sectors.
She further stated that the election of a new national executive committee would help reposition the council to better fulfil its mandate of safeguarding and promoting the safety, health, and well-being of workers across Nigeria.
“This will also enhance productivity in government and business through advocacy, sensitisation, and awareness programmes. It is therefore crucial that the newly elected National Executive Committee identifies and coordinates various advocacy platforms for effective OSH awareness creation among key stakeholders, including the government, employers’ associations, and workers’ unions,” she added.
Mr. John Obajinmi, the newly elected National President of the council, assured that his administration would build on the contributions of past leaders. He reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with the Ministry of Labour and Employment to strengthen ties with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and other relevant ministries.
