Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has assured workers of  Nigeria’s readiness to advance preventive culture in the world of work, by domesticating the International Labour Organization’s, ILO,  Convention C.187, on Promotional Framework on Occupational Safety and Health, OHS,  in Nigeria.

Declaring open a two-day National Awareness and Sensitization Workshop on OSH, organized by the Ministry in partnership with Global Network Monitoring and Development Initiative, the Minister who was represented by the Director OSH, Dr Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, said “the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, in the spirit of domesticating the International Labour Organisation’s Convention C.187 on Promotional Framework on OSH, in Nigeria, is committed to boosting OSH in the administrative services and offices beyond the regularly covered industrial working environment.”

He cautioned that safety and health at work should not be compromised, while advocating a robust awareness to protect worker’s well being thereby increasing their productivity.

The Minister noted that an up to date legislative framework was critical to creating an effective OSH awareness, while expressing optimism that the current Legislature would pass the pending Occupational Safety and Health Bill and other Labour Bills.

He said: “An up to date legislative framework is critical to creating an effective Occupational Safety and Health awareness as it clearly expressed the responsibilities, standards and guidelines to ensure safety at work.

“The Occupational Safety and Health Bill pending before the National Assembly is key to effective Occupational Safety and Health communication.”

We believe that the current Legislature will pass this Bill and other Labour Bills that are pending before the end of its tenure as Nigerian workers will be better for it.

Earlier, Executive Director, Global Network Monitoring and Development Initiative, Engr. Mohammed Haruna, advised participants to avail themselves of the opportunity of the workshop, to advocate for safe work place in their organizations and beyond, as the workshop is designed to impact aggregate productivity of participants and their respective organizations.

Furthermore, Engr. Mohammed implored both the public and private organizations to set up health and safety desk in their establishments to facilitate health and safety culture in their respective establishments.