From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) conducted 5,592 occupational safety and health activities at workplaces across the nation in the past year. The agency emphasized its commitment to creating safe and healthy workplaces for all Nigerian workers, especially in the face of climate change.
NSITF Managing Director, Maureen Allagoa, highlighted the importance of occupational safety and health (OSH) programs in preventing workplace accidents and ensuring employee well-being.
“OSH is the primary charge in our responsibilities as the nation’s apex social security organization,” she stated. “We have pursued this life-saving process with all vigour since I assumed office about a year ago.”
Allagoa emphasized that NSITF prioritizes accident prevention over compensation, aiming to double its OSH activities within the next year.
The agency conducted 3,234 occupational health and safety audits, 1,614 awareness campaigns, and 744 follow-up visits at workplaces across the country.
NSITF acknowledged the challenges posed by climate change to occupational safety and health.
“Climate change affects workplaces in various ways, including excessive heat, increased exposure to extreme weather events, Ultra-Violent radiation, vector-borne diseases, agrochemicals, air pollution, as well as changes in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters,” Allagoa stated.
“These environmental shifts jeopardize the physical well-being of workers and impact their mental health and overall productivity.”
The agency has adopted proactive measures to address these challenges, including:
Raising awareness about climate change and its impact on workplaces; Providing guidance and resources to employers on how to adapt their workplaces to climate change; Supporting research on the health effects of climate change on workers.
NSITF remains committed to safeguarding the safety and well-being of Nigerian workers, ensuring a healthy and sustainable work environment for al, she said.