The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Abuja, Nigeria has sensitised some field workers on reducing to the barest minimum all risks and hazards that are associated with their respective work
The participants, drawn from Parks and Recreation Department and Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), were engaged at a 1-Day workshop on ‘Advocacy on Workplace Hazard’, organised by FCTA through its Reform Coordination and Service Improvement(RCSI), on Monday in Abuja.
Declaring the workshop open, the Acting Director, Human Resource Management of the FCT Administration, Akinnubi Ogunniran noted that the programme was critical to ensuring efficiency in the system.
According to him, apart from physical hazards they are exposed to, there are health hazards too. The street cleaners need protections against dust and all. In order to avoid physical health challenges or psychological trauma, injuries that could be life threatening or impact their lives in the long run. Especially when they retire or during active duty.
He adds: “I want to implore the organisers to make sure that they persistently do this awareness/sensitisation to all the relevant SDAs not only in the FCT, but sister agencies in other MDAs, on the need to really emphasise the hazards in our workplaces.”
He therefore urged the participants to take the programme very seriously, as they will be the ambassadors, who would take the cardinal message to their colleagues, neighbours and all those that work in hazardous jobs, to see how much risks they expose themselves to while doing their jobs.
Earlier in her welcome address by the Acting Director, RCSI, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu said the workshop was put together in fulfilment of the 6th Pillar of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and implementation (FCSSIP25), which is targeted at enhance value proposition for civil servants.
She added the new thinking of the Civil Service under the leadership of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan places high premiums on the welfare of civil servants.
“To this end, the safety of our field workers wherever they find themselves providing essential services such as cleaning of our environment, maintenance of our facilities, we should make a deliberate policy that will protect and guide them against risks associated with this types of job schedule.
Shakirat Sadiq
