FG Committed to Safety of Nigerian Workers, Says Onyejeocha

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has restated the federal government’s commitment to the safe, healthy working conditions and environment for Nigerian workers.

The Minister stated this yesterday, in her keynote address during a two-day workshop for the review and validation of the National Profile on Occupational Safety and Health (OHS) organised in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Onyejeocha, said the current administration led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was passionate about the protection of the labour force and the revitalisation of the economy for improved well-being of Nigerians.

She said the workshop was part of the government’s commitments through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to step in develop a robust and comprehensive National Profile on Occupational Safety and Health.

According to the Minster, “the Profile will stimulate effective management of workplace safety and health in Nigeria and enhance economic growth of the nation, in line with Priority Three of the Administration’s Development Agenda.”

She noted that the recent ratification of ILO’s Convention 187 by the Nigerian Government on Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health, which aims to promote a preventive safety and health culture at the national level, was “an important step towards ensuring safe working environments nationwide through the activities of the Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.”

“We must acknowledge that Occupational Safety and Health Systems have been widely proven to be an effective strategy for achieving the sustainable Safety and Health Management.

“This had led to the draft review of the nation’s country profile on occupational safety and health, so as to secure the much desired preventative occupational safety and health culture; through the participatory implementation of occupational safety and health programmes by various stakeholders,” she said.