Speaker Raises Alarm On Workplace Safety

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Abbas Tajudeen has highlighted the need for improved workplace safety standards in the country.

Speaking at the World Day for Safety Conference in Abuja, Dr Abbas emphasized that many workers have been injured or killed on the job due to lack of safety measures.

He noted that Nigeria lacks reliable data on workplace accidents, making it difficult to track the scale of the problem.

According to him, studies have shown that healthcare workers and construction workers are among those at high risk of injury or death.

“What many regard as data are reports from some organisations with high risk exposure, like the petroleum and mining sectors. Even at that, the data is neither comprehensive nor reliable. The last time such data was recorded was between 1994 and 2001. An online report quoting from the ILO source only showed that the most recent fatalities were 238 fatalities and 3,461 injuries in the construction industry between 2014 and 2016.”

“However, a recent study of health sector injuries conducted at the Federal Medical Center in Asaba, showed that out of 167 health workers, comprising 7 doctors, 100 nurses and 20 laboratory workers, a total of 88, about 52.7 percent reported experiencing needle pricks while 89 representing 53.3 percent reported blood splash incidents.”

“While this may not seem to constitute a serious workplace injury, the enormity of the hazard health workers faces come to reality in the face of outbreaks like Ebola, COVID 19, and HIV, and other such transmissible diseases.

“Recall that Dr. Amevo Adadevoh, OON, and Justina Ejelonu, a nurse, lost their lives in August 2014 after contact with an Ebola patient whom they prevented from leaving the hospital”.

“Also, many construction workers have become victims of workplace injuries, both fatal and non-fatal and in some cases, some workers have become permanently disfigured from injuries sustained at the workplace”.

“The causes of workplace injuries in construction sites have been linked to unsafe acts and unsafe working conditions, Including lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), rain gear, hoisting equipment, appropriate scaffolds, and ladder protections. These, among many others, expose workers to hazards and accidents”.

Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammed Dingyadi, emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of labour laws and a shared commitment to building a safer work environment.

He pointed out that bureaucratic processes have hindered the comprehensive review of labour laws in Nigeria and reaffirmed that the journey towards a safer and healthier workplace in Nigeria, demands all hands to be on deck.

For his part, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, Mr. David Zacharias, said that this is the first-ever, World Day for Safety Conference in Nigeria organised by the National Assembly.

In her keynote address, the Country Director of the International Labour Organisation, Dr. Vanessa Phala, urged the Nigerian government to invest in a robust data system, ensure transparency, accessibility and evidence-based policy making process.

She also advised the government to ensure adequate compensation to workers when harm occurs.

The theme for the day was “The Legislative Perspective: Safety First, Building a Safer Future for All Nigerians.”

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Blessing Nyor