Health, Safety Desks Set Up Nationwide By NSITF

 

In order to better implement its mandate, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has established health and safety desks in all of its branches within the federation and Federal Capital Territory. The Fund said that the move entailed engaging in various health and safety activities such as Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) awareness, OSH inspection/audit, accident investigations, and various advocacy efforts.

Abdul-Lateef Musa, the Regional Manager, Lagos Regional Office, disclosed this information when the Fund went on a road show to sensitise and educate the public on the importance of practising safety in the workplace, to commemorate the World Day of Safety and Health at Work which is on the 28th of April. He also added that part of the advocacies is the well entrenched Safe Work Intervention Projects (SWIP), which is currently running with compliant employers that have keyed into its Employee Compensation Scheme (ECS).

According to him, selected employers that have met the high health and safety standards in a period of one year are handsomely rewarded with items such as ambulances and certificate excellence which are issued by the Fund. Pointing out that the Fund, which was established by the Federal Government, was for the protection and benefit of all workers, both in the private and public, formal and informal sectors of Nigeria.

 

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As he spoke on the theme ‘Enhancing social dialogue towards a culture of safety and health’, the NSITF boss said that the day had been set aside by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to promote the prevention of incidents and diseases at workplaces. He stated that based on the ILO’s OSH Convention 2006, the NSITF calls for the adoption of a national OSH policy, built through tripartite consultation and discussions with all relevant stakeholders.

He mentioned that the government, alongside relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), needed to build and maintain a preventive OSH culture that ensured that workers’ health and safety remained a priority in the national agenda. To achieve this, Musa said adequate resources should be committed to the creation of robust awareness of OSH (risks, hazards), prevention and control.

Agboma Okoroafor, Deputy General Manager, Administration, NSITF, also encouraged organisations to familiarise themselves with the culture of safety in their work place, by ensuring that safety procedures are in place and strictly adhered to. She further added that, while the NSITF seeks to provide social security protection and safety nets for all Nigerians against deprivation and income security, in accordance with ILO Conventions and other world best practices, the Fund would continue to ensure proper social dialogue towards a culture of safety and health.