Illoh cautions employers against compromising workers’ safety

THE Federal Government has warned employers against unnecessarily exposing workers to occupational hazards under the guise of lacking the resources to ensure safety at work.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh, who stated this while addressing a National Workshop on Occupational Safety and Health, organized by the House of Representatives in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and Go-Getters Consulting Ltd, said safety of workers should be prioritized and seen as strategic asset for enterprises.

Dr Illoh who spoke through the Director, Occupational Safety and Health in the Ministry, Mrs. Nofisat Arogundade, added: “The government would not allow employers of labour to compromise the protection of the industrial workers under the pretext of scarce resources and multiple competing factors. Safe and healthy working conditions are increasingly understood as strategic assets for enterprises.”

Speaking further, the Permanent Secretary emphasized that his Ministry in line with its mandate on Occupational Safety and Health at work has made some restructuring to direct special focus on prevention culture in occupational safety and health administration instruments.

He added that in view of the progress recorded so far, much remains to be done to ensure that prevention becomes a reality in the world of works, noting that as recent spate of industrial accidents and diseases at work do not only have devastating effects on workers and their families, but on the enterprise and national economy. He explained: “In spite of progress, much remains to be done to ensure that prevention becomes a reality everywhere. The recent spates of major industrial accidents are stark reminder of unsafe conditions still faced by many.

These accidents and diseases at work do not only have devastating effects on worker and their families but on the enterprise and national economy.” In his remarks, former Chairman of the House of Representative Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Hon. Essien Ekpeyoung Ayi, stated that the Green Chamber is committed to supporting a sustainable capacity building legislative process that is aimed at improving public and private policy design and development management in the country.

He added that thousands of Nigerian workers, most especially in the private sector of the economy, have died and many have become permanently and physically incapacitated, as a result of poor safety measures in the work place.