The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has intensified its nationwide campaign to promote workplace safety.

Kicking off the campaign with stakeholder engagements in Bauchi, Jos and Kaduna simultaneously, the programme, titled Programme on Safety Regulations, Policies and Standards, is organised by the Fund’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Department to raise awareness among employers on the importance of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and strengthen capacity for safer workplaces across the country.

The engagements are designed to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of OSH frameworks, challenges and opportunities in Nigeria, while promoting the integration of workplace safety into national development and organisational strategies.

The Fund’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Alexandra Mede, said the programme also seeks to build participants’ capacity to develop and implement effective OSH policies, encourage collaboration among stakeholders, expose employers to emerging safety technologies and innovations, and strengthen practical skills in risk prevention, incident investigation and safety leadership.

The statement said 85 employers were invited to each of the three locations, but attendance had surpassed expectations.
Mede added that during the first phase of the campaign, held in Owerri, Port Harcourt and Lagos from August 11 to 14, more than 100 employers participated in each session.

The Fund said the initiative aimed to shift OSH from a mere compliance requirement to a core component of business strategy, while equipping employers with modern tools and technologies to prevent workplace incidents.

NSITF noted that the rise in workplace incidents and compensation claims in some sectors underscores the need to strengthen employers’ safety leadership, risk management and incident investigation capabilities.

The Bauchi, Jos and Kaduna engagements are expected to conclude on Thursday, with NSITF announcing plans to extend stakeholder outreach to other parts of the country to promote wider adoption of occupational safety standards nationwide.