The need for employers of labour in Nigeria to be intentional about compliance with workplace safety and health regulations has been underscored.

Stakeholders who gathered at an interactive session in Lagos argued that the future of work would be defined by how much the country protects its workforce while driving productivity and growth.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, in a keynote, said SWIP is a collaborative occupational health and safety initiative designed to enhance workplace safety across Nigeria through structured audits, engagement, and recognition.

He described the dialogue as a strong demonstration of everyone’s collective commitment to protecting workers and sustaining enterprises. He stated that the Employees’ Compensation Act represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s labour administration framework, guaranteeing fair, adequate compensation to workers who suffer injuries, disabilities, or diseases. or death arising from the cause of their employment.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, stated that the Federal Government was working around the clock to strengthen the enforcement of the Factory Rights Act.

While urging for partnership with key stakeholders such as NECA, Onyejeocha said the Federal Government would continue to intensify workplace instructions nationwide, even as she urged employers to fully comply with the provisions of the Act and contribute by continuously investing in safety systems.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, stated that a sustained effort to strengthen the NSITF Act, improve compliance, and empower workers can transform occupational risk management in Nigeria.

Ajaero, who was represented by the NLC National Treasurer, Aliyu Haruna, said the action would not only reduce the socio-economic burden of workplace injuries but also promote a culture of safety, accountability, and social justice across the nation’s workplaces.

He emphasised the need to focus on raising awareness, enforcement, and inclusivity, noting that the Act could serve as a model framework for workers’ protection, ensuring that all Nigerian employees enjoy their right to fair, timely, and adequate compensation regardless of sector.

NECA Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, explained that the SWIP was designed as a learning and equipment platform, enabling employers to better understand their obligations under the law, appreciate the benefits of compliance, and adopt proactive occupational safety and health practices that protect both workers and enterprises.

Smatt-Oyerinde described the interactive session and award ceremony as deliberate interventions to recognise organisations that have demonstrated exemplary commitment to workplace safety, while also providing a forum for open dialogue on the practical challenges employers face in implementing the ECA 2010.

Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, urged organisations that are yet to fully align with safety compliance to avail themselves of the event to do so. He stressed that no job is worth a life, and no organisation can sustainably thrive when safety is treated as an afterthought.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Enhancing Workplace Safety, Strengthening Compliance, Celebrating Excellence’, the NSITF MD said compliance must be seen not as a regulatory obligation alone, but as a strategic business decision that safeguards human capital, reduces operational risk, and enhances organisational reputation”.

In a presentation titled ‘Employees’ Compensation Act, 2010: The Journey so Far’, the Executive Director, Operations at NSITF, Mojisola Alli-Macauley, revealed that the scheme has a little less than 200,0000 organisations, translating to around eight million employees under its cover.

She further stated that 142,745 persons have so far benefited in one form or another from the Scheme. A major highlight of the event was the recognition of companies such as Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria, Chi Limited, among others, with some receiving car ambulances to promote workplace safety.