The Managing Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr Michael Akabogu has urged stakeholders to ensure Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards in workplaces in the country.
Akabogu spoke on Thursday in Abuja while addressing newsmen at a press conference to mark the 2022 World Day for Safety and Health.
The 2022 World Day for Safety and Health with the theme: “Act Together to Build a Positive Safety and Health Culture’’ also came with a road walk organised by the Department of Health, Safety and Environment in NSITF in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The managing director, represented by the General Manager, Health and Safety Department, Mr Kelly Nwagha enumerated the benefits of a healthy workplace.
He said even though they have powers to enforce the law, they need them to understand the benefits and implement it willingly rather than being compelled.
He urged the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) to motivate workers and employees for healthy workplaces in the country.
“This occasion that is today’s event, which is celebrated every April 28, all over the world serves as a wake-up call for social partner.
“In Nigeria, our social partners are the government, the most representative of employers, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the most representatives of worker, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA)
“These social partners are expected to continue to promote, monitor and enforce compliance with the Employee Compensation Act, 2010 in line with Section 1(f) of the Act,’’ he said.
He said that theme encouraged workplaces to foster a strong OSH culture in which everyone contributes to a safe and healthy working environment.
“Work kills more people than in war, says ILO. Most di not due of mystry ailments , or in tragic ‘accidents’. They die because an employer decided their safety just was not that important a priority.
“World Day fir safety and health at Work, 28th April commemorate those workers . It is an awareness raising campaign intended to focus international attention on the magnitude if Occupational safety and health (OSH) challenges and on how promoting and creating a collaborative safety and health culture can help reduce the number of health related deaths, injuries and disabilities
According to him, Nigerian workplaces are continuously changing, evolving, and adapting due to a range of global factors within and out of our control.
Akabogu stressed the need to embed OSH into workplace cultures and make it everyone’s responsibility to save lives and create happy, safe, and healthy workplaces.
He said that to eventually stop deaths, injuries and disabilities in workplaces; it would require the participation of employers and workers’ organisations in the governance of safety and health.
The managing director recommended the dissemination of essential information and make employers, workers and communities familiar with their rights and responsibilities.
He stressed the need for the collection of data and information on OSH to adopt informed, evidence-based policies, strategies and standards.
Akabogu said that there should be open communication and dialogue between workers and employers, “where workers feel comfortable sharing their concerns is the way towards a positive OSH culture