The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has intensified its nationwide campaign to promote occupational safety and health standards, taking its awareness programme to Jos, Bauchi and Kaduna.
The latest phase of the campaign brings together employers and other stakeholders in the North-Central, North-East and North-West regions to strengthen workplace safety practices.
The programme, tagged “Programme on Safety Regulations, Policies and Standards”, is being organised by the NSITF’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Department.
It seeks to improve employers’ understanding of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) frameworks and strengthen their capacity to develop and implement effective safety policies.
According to NSITF’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Alexandra Mede, the programme is also designed to promote collaboration among stakeholders, expose employers to emerging safety technologies and innovations, and enhance practical skills in risk prevention, incident investigation and safety leadership.
Mede said 85 employers were invited to each of the three locations, but participation had exceeded expectations.
She recalled that more than 100 employers attended each of the sessions held in Owerri, Port Harcourt and Lagos from August 11 to 14.
Mede said the initiative was intended to reposition occupational safety and health from a mere compliance requirement to a core component of business strategy.
She added that the programme would equip employers with modern tools and technologies to prevent workplace incidents and improve safety management.
The NSITF said the rising number of workplace incidents and compensation claims in some sectors highlighted the need for stronger safety leadership, improved risk management and better incident investigation.
The Fund said it would extend the stakeholder engagement to other parts of the country after the current sessions in Bauchi, Jos and Kaduna in a bid to promote wider adoption of occupational safety standards nationwide.
