Abuja, Nigeria (CU)_ The government ordered the companies and employers of labor in Nigeria to strictly adhere to the country’s Occupational Safety and Health Laws and Regulations. According to Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labor and Employment, the provisions of the Factories Act, 2004 and other Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) policies and regulations are intended to protect workers from dangers and risks at workplaces. The minister made the announcement in Ilorin, Kwara State in North-central Nigeria.
The Minister directed a team from the Ministry to visit and inspect a number of firms and enterprises in Ilorin in order to evaluate their degree of compliance with the requirements of the Factories Act and other national and international policies and regulations on occupational safety and health. Keyamo was represented by the Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Department of the ministry.
According to Mrs. Lauretta Adogu, the government supports occupational safety and health through monitoring, inspecting, and investigating workplace accidents in an effort to prevent accidents at the workplace, as well as dangers, injuries, and infections. She said, “Government’s activities in promoting OSH are guided by international and regional laws, national laws and policies, as well as ILO Conventions, especially Conventions 155 and 187, which are now fundamental Conventions, and whose principles must be compulsorily respected and promoted by all member states of the Organization.”
The Minister then asked the organizations to comply with national and international laws and policies on occupational safety and health and connect their organizational policies with the National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health and the National Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS. The firms that were investigated are Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Tuyil Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Outspan Nigeria Limited, OFI, and International Tobacco Company. In response to the announcement, the management of several enterprises vowed to continue following all current rules and requirements of the numerous national laws and policies and international regulations on occupational safety and health.
