Govt reads riot act to employers over occupational safety

NLC cautions Imo gov against use of force on workers
THE Federal Government will come hard on employers of labour that fail to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Factories Act Cap F1 2004 that specifies how to maintain safety in the work place.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh, who bemoaned the recurrent issue of preventable fatal industrial accidents that resulted in injuries and death of Nigerian workers at Hongxing Steel Company Limited, revealed that the Federal Government has instituted a high level enquiry into the issue at stake.

In ensuring this adherence, he hinted that the top management staff of Hongxing Steel Company was invited for a crucial meeting slated for yesterday (Monday) in Abuja aimed at concluding investigation into the immediate and remote courses of the accidents with a view to ensured full compliance to the Factory Act 2004 and give the company time frame to rectify all contraventions and recommendations to ensure adequate safety and health of employees, including compensation to the victims of the industrial accidents.

Speaking further, Permanent Secretary warned that the Federal Government will not hesitate to prohibit and prosecute errant employers of labour that contravened extant labour laws and regulations.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the action of Imo state government for using Police Force to chase out workers from offices, especially, paratatals in order to concession them.

The General Secretary of NLC, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, said Congress was reliably informed that scores of workers have been arrested, brutalised and tear-gassed.

He added: “We would want to condemn, in strong terms, these unwholesome tactics in pursuit of a dangerous agenda by the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. We will resist the use of the police to deal with an issue that is purely industrial.”

NLC therefore urged the Inspector General of Police to immediately call to order the Imo State Police Commissioner in order to forestall a complete breakdown of law and order.

NLC said it may be forced to mobilize its members in the state to enforce the their rights.
“We assure on our honour that if the police persist in the brutalisation and forceful ejection of workers from their offices, the Nigeria Labour Congress will mobilise its affiliates, State Councils and Civil Society allies to Imo State to enforce the rights of its members,” he stated.

Ozo-Eson highlighted that as part of the process of managing the situation created by Governor Okorocha, Congress had written to him on October 9, 2015 proffering solutions.
In the letter, he said Congress had pointed out to him decisions and activities that were malicious, unlawful, glaringly anti-labour and a direct invitation to an industrial crisis.