The Federal Government has commenced the draft review and validation of the country’s National Profile on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), to enhance the safety of the nation’s workplaces.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who flagged off a two-day workshop on the exercise, said that the Profile would stimulate effective management of workplace safety and health in Nigeria, as well as enhance economic growth of the nation in line with Priority Three (3) of Federal Government’s Development Agenda.
Onyejeocha stated that developing the Profile on OSH, in collaboration with the Labour Organisation (ILO), demonstrated federal government’s commitment to the protection of the nation’s labour force and the revitalization of the economy for improved well-being of Nigerians.
The Minister disclosed that the aim of the workshop was to identify new tools for effective Occupational Safety and Health Management through the review and validation of the 2016 Nigeria Country Profile on Occupational Safety and Health.
According to her, the purpose of the workshop is also “to create a comprehensive national profile that provides the framework for the strengthening of the National Occupational Safety and Health System.”
The Minister noted that Occupational Safety and Health Systems had been proven to be an effective strategy for achieving 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 added.
She called on stakeholders to contribute to the development of a comprehensively reviewed National Profile on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all Nigerians, prevent workplace accidents, injuries, illnesses and deaths, and promote a culture of safety and health at work.
Onyejeocha encouraged the stakeholders to not only participate in the review processes, but to be accountable for their unique roles and responsibilities. “This will help ensure that the Occupational Safety and Health Management System is effective in preventing and mitigating the impact of workplace accidents, injuries, illnesses, dangerous occurrences, disasters and deaths.”
The Minister noted that the Nigerian government recently ratified ILO Convention 187 on Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health, aimed at promoting a preventive safety and health culture. She described that as an important step towards ensuring safe working environments nationwide.
Country Director, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Vanessa Phala, said that the validated document, with the recommendations that would emerge from the workshop, would help guide the development of Nigeria’s next national OSH programme (2025-2029).
She noted that the ILO adopted “safe and healthy working environment” as one of the fundamental principles and rights at work” in 2022, with Convention C155 (on occupational safety and health) and CI87 (on the promotional framework for OSH) designated as fundamental conventions.
“To this end, the combined provisions of Conventions CI55 and CI87 offer the great framework for implementing the ILO’s global strategy for occupational safety and health in a systemic management approach based on the principles of continuous improvement,” she added.
The Country Director congratulated Nigerian government for taking the initiative to ratify those two conventions even before they became fundamental.
Stakeholders at the workshop include the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), and Trade Union Congress (TUC).