Rivalry: Lawmakers broker peace in Safety Professionals Institute

Gloria Essien, Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards has brokered peace between the three factions of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria.

The Chairman House Committee on Safety, Standards and Regulations, Mr. Suleiman Gumi while briefing journalists in Abuja, said that the reconciliation was important for the safety of Nigerians.

He said that the committee gave all the factions the opportunity to make their points and resolutions reached adding that the committee gave all factions equal opportunities to address them, and a final meeting was organized to effect reconciliation.

“The outcome of this meeting was the creation of a Care Taker Committee (CTC) to conduct the affairs of organizing a conference and AGM to elect new executives to govern ISPON as a unified body. All national leaders endorsed the communique in a joyous atmosphere, marking a new beginning for ISPON. Ladies and gentlemen, standing here with me are members of the Care taker committee elected by all the factions. Some of them are past presidents and leaders of ISPON that have saved the institute indifferent capacities”. Mr. Gumi said .

He noted that ISPON is to hold a unity conference in Abuja between October 17th and 19th, 2024 in Abuja.

“Today, I am here to brief you on the upcoming ISPON unification conference and AGM for the unification of ISPON. As you may know, ISPON was officially established in 2014 by an Act of the National Assembly. However, in 2016, issues surrounding elections and leadership transfers led to the division of ISPON into three factions, greatly reducing the institution’s activities. Despite efforts made by the Inspector General of Police, the American Society of Safety Professionals, the National Industrial Safety Council, the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, the Nigerian Airforce, the Nigerian Navy, and many well-meaning individuals to reconcile the factions, no results were achieved.

“In response to this, the National Assembly inaugurated a Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, which had as one of its primary objectives to unify ISPON for the benefit of promoting safety in Nigeria”. He said.

The Chairman also said that it was imperative that every employer of labor in Nigeria takes note that after October 19th, a new executive will be elected to govern ISPON.

“From that day forward, all HES (Health and Environmental Safety) practitioners must obtain the new ISPON certification to practice as stipulated by the ISPON Act of 2014. The National Assembly will only recognize certifications issued by the new executives. A revalidation exercise will be conducted, and new certificates will be issued. We urge all stakeholders to cooperate with this process and support the unity of ISPON”. Mr. Gumi said.

He added that while some individuals may have chosen to withdraw from the process due to selfish reasons, “We want to make it clear that no one is above the law, and no individual or group can hold the country to ransom for personal gain”.

Also speaking, a past president of ISPON, Mr. Shaw Fregene who midwives the bill that produced the act that established ISPON, said that the crisis in the institute was as a result of selfish interest.

“And since I handed over, there were skirmishes, but the climax of it was 2016, when most members disagreed with the then leadership. They were not doing things the way they should be done. The act should be followed and people’s rights should be respected.

“After two years, you go for re-election. After that, your tenure expires. So how can somebody stay on a position for four years without quitting six years? And he wants to personify the position to himself, which is wrong.” Mr. Fregene said.

Similar, a former Secretary of ISPON, Mr. Iyenoma Osazee, said that being a member of the institute had a lot of benefits.

He noted that the crisis gave birth to so many foreign bodies and unprofessionalism.

“We are not against them. In South Africa, you cannot, if only if you come with the highest foreign qualification in health and safety, you are not allowed to practice until you go through the rudiments of their process and you are FAN certified. You can add the foreign qualification to what you have.

“But here we are. It has become everything for Tom, Dick, and Harry. The issue actually broke out, and the interpretation of the act was done upside down, and it gave birth to where we are today”. Mr. Osazee said.

The Institute also used the occasion to call for sponsorship of their forthcoming conference.