Government urged to invest in safety commission
Dapo Omolade
Hybrid Group Limited, a key stakeholder in health, safety and environmental sustainability has charged government to invest more on safety commission.
Dapo Omolade, Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Group, made this announcement, yesterday, during the organisation’s maiden alumni network event. He lamented that foreign hands have dominated the country’s safety commission sector, saying: “Safety in Nigeria, today, has been done by expatriates. Why? Is that because Nigerians are not competent? This is where we come in as a health and safety training company, to make Nigerians competent, to be able to take the job.
“If you are not competent, you cannot manage safety. When they bring in an expert, it is because there is no Nigerian that can do the job. So, we have big opportunities for employment, if the government decides to invest and set up a safety commission.”
In her address, the former Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), Dominga Omolara Odebunmi, urged Nigerians to promote a safety culture in all endeavours.
She urged organisations to do the right thing, stop cutting corners, and put an end to maltreatment of employees. She added: “Organisations, themselves, want to protect their business. They want to make maximum profit. But you can only make maximum profit if you abide by safety rules; otherwise, you will be paying for litigation every time. That’s not the route to go.”
On his part, the presidential candidate of Accord Party, Christopher Imumolen, charged government to ensure only safety professionals are hired in the field.
He said: “We must stop appointing people through political lines. There are some positions the government must not give to people as political reward. You need professionals.”
