- Companies Reported 2,505 Accidents in 21 Months
Between January 2015 and September 2016, corporate organisations in the country reported 2,505 cases of occupational accidents/injuries, data from the National Social Insurance Trust Fund showed.
The NSITF data indicated that six per cent of the reported cases were fatal, with some leading to permanent disabilities for the victims.
Further analysis showed that the construction sector had the highest record of occupation-related accidents and diseases, followed by the manufacturing companies and the maritime industry.
The Medical Advisor, APM Terminal, Dr. Layiwola Ogunjobi, while commenting on the spate of occupational accidents in the country, said that though a basic legislative framework, the National Occupational Safety and Health Policy and a functional Employee Compensation Scheme existed in the country, there was shortage of trained and certified safety personnel.
He lamented a lack of coordination among stakeholders regarding occupational safety and health practices and programmes.
According to him, lack of a holistic and contemporary National OSH Act and limited coverage of workplaces by extant laws are some of the weaknesses observed in the industry.
He pointed out that there was a need for reliable data collection, collation, analysis and presentation system to make a national safety score card.
Ogunjobi called for a review of the existing National OSH policy and the development of a national OSH framework that would enforce compliance with the law.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, had earlier this year decried the lack of reliable data on occupational accidents and diseases sustained in the course of work in the country.
According to the him, every year, millions of people get sick, injured or die as a result of occupational accidents and diseases sustained in the course of work, with just a few cases being reported.
Ngige emphasised that data collection was essential for policy making, planning purposes, and setting of priorities and targets of action at the national level.
“Nigeria joins the global community to improve capacity to collect and utilise reliable occupational safety and health data to fulfil its commitment to implement and report on Goal 8 of the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which provides for the promotion of inclusive and sustainable economic growth and decent work for all,” he added.
Ngige, therefore, urged Nigerian workers to report workplace accidents and diseases to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment via a designated email and hotline in order to prevent reoccurrences.
