Fg Committed To Decent Working Condition – Ngige

BEVERLY HILLS, November 21, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige has affirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to providing safe and healthy working environment with decent working conditions for Nigerian workers.

The Minister, represented by the Director of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), Dr. Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, at the validation of the draft National Occupational Safety and Health Profile, asserted that the government was aware of the fact that a safe and healthy worker is an asset to his or her employer and the nation.

“The Federal Government will continue to take necessary steps to add value and strengthens policies and programmes aimed at providing safe and healthy working environment and stimulate fair working conditions for all workers,” he said.

“A well-defined and popular profile document for the promotion of social dialogue in occupational safety and health is essential for effective consultations and collaboration for a robust safety and health culture.

“The validation of the Draft National Occupational Safety and Health Profile will be a catalyst to the nation's drive to adopt international best practices in the promotion of preventive occupational safety and health culture.”

Country Director of International Labour Organisation, (ILO) Demmis Zulu, said that the ILO was committed to the development and preventive of OSH strategies which aimed to protect and promote workers' health and wellbeing.

“It goes without saying that the whole issue of National Health and Safety is paramount and needs to be given the seriousness, importance and priority it deserves,” he said.

“For instance, there are quite a number of incidents and accidents in different sectors of Nigeria's economy, particularly, in both the manufacturing and the construction sector. Workers who are affected by these incidents and accidents, due to lack of adherence to the minimum standards of occupational health and safety, are those between the ages of 18 and 30.”

He added that the document would ensure that the manufacturing and construction sectors, among others, improve their working condition and environments.

Story by Oputah David