FG launches N1.34b five-year occupational health, safety strategic plan

The Federal Government has launched a strategic action plan for occupational and safety services, estimated to gulp N1.34 billion in the next five years.The plan covering 2024 – 2028 will provide strategic direction to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOHSW) and other stakeholders to ensure access to occupational health and safety services for working individuals.

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, who unveiled the document in Abuja, said that the Federal Government’s new policy of diversifying the economy to non-oil sectors such as solid mineral, mining and agriculture will expose workers in these sectors to occupational hazards, hence the need to put in place a national strategic plan for the implementation of occupational health and safety services.

While assuring stakeholders of accountable and responsive leadership in implementing the strategic plan, Pate explained that the programme was launched in recognition of the need to protect workers’ health and ensure sustainable development in the face of increased industrialisation.

He said the Occupational Health and Safety Division was established to ensure that individuals enjoy a healthy and productive life while at work and in retirement, adding that the launch of the strategic plan opened a new vista for the implementation of occupational health and safety services in the health sector, as well as guide stakeholders on how to respond and manage work-related diseases, injuries, and accidents to improve the health, well-being, and productivity of employees.

The minister explained that the document addresses significant challenges and strategic objectives through activities and instruments that will be deployed and align with the health sector strategic blueprint in achieving a healthy workforce, the key international target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); including International Labour Organization (ILO) and WHO conventions, treaties, policies, visions, missions and recommendations as well as national Acts and Laws which relate to occupational health and safety.

He said: “Nigeria is a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and, complies with the ratification of conventions, treaties and policies related to Occupational Health and Safety. For instance, Nigeria is the 29th country to ratify Convention No.187 promoting a safe and healthy working environment and the 22nd to ratify the ILO Convention No. 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work.

These policies encapsulate the need to ensure workers are protected against workplace accidents. FMOHSW recognises its role in implementing the ILO policies and is committed to providing health sector intervention”.

Pate stated that for an effective implementation of the National Occupational Health and Safety five-year strategic plan, government at all levels, partners, donors, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders must work together to mobilise the required resources.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Daju Kachollom, said Nigeria adopted the inter-sectorial and multidisciplinary approach to tackle occupational health and safety problems to make maximum impact on the nation’s working population.

According to her, the approach involves the interaction of various professionals including Occupational Health Physicians, Occupational Health Nurses, Occupational Hygienists, Ergonomists, and Occupational Psychologist, as well as other collaborating Ministries such as environment, labour, agriculture, works, urban and regional development, as well as Head of Service (HOS).

She stated that the key mandate of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Division of the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare in collaboration with the sub-national is to carry out health risk assessment and surveillance at both formal and informal sectors to determine workers’ health, identify hazards and evaluate the work environment of workplaces.

“By this, the programme can generate data and information through the use of a developed national checklist. The information is then used to develop policies to improve workers’ well-being.

She noted that the plan will guide how the health sector and its stakeholders respond to and manage work-related diseases, injuries, and accidents to improve health, well-being, and employees’ productivity. It will also outline its intention, as well as its direction during this period.

“The development of this strategy has necessitated the need to take stock of past experiences and continue building on what has been achieved, while pushing for wider and more concrete ownership of OHS by the government through the health sector, at national and sub-national levels.

“This document will act as the driver of improved working conditions in all workplaces in the formal and informal sectors, through adequate risk assessment, hazard prevention, and the promotion of safer and healthier environmental conditions in the workplace, which is central to economic competitiveness,” she added.

Kachollom expressed the government’s commitment to ensure that the health of workers is highly prioritised as a national occupational health and safety culture- which the right to a safe and healthy working environment is respected at all levels, where governments, employers and workers actively participate in securing a safe and healthy working environment.