Lawmaker seeks stronger safety culture
By Oluwatope Lawanson/Lydia Chigozie-Ngwakwe
A House of Representatives member, Mr Sulaiman Gumi, has urged stronger enforcement, investment, and cultural change to deepen occupational health and environmental safety in Nigeria.
Gumi made the call at the International Conference and Awards on Health, Safety, Security, and Environment on Thursday in Ikeja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day conference has the theme: ‘Promoting Resilient Occupational, Governance, Risk Management, and Environmental Safety Standards (PROGRESS)’.
The event was organised in partnership with the World Safety Organisation (WSO), Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), and other regulatory bodies.
Gumi, a former Chairman of the Committee on Safety Standards, said the theme was a blueprint challenging stakeholders to embed safety into governance, workplaces, and environmental practices.
He said organisations must invest in scenario planning, business continuity, and predictive safety technologies.
The lawmaker stressed the importance of resilience against pandemics, climate change, and industrial hazards.
As Chairman of the House Committee on the North West Development Commission, he emphasised that every worker deserved protection, and every community deserved freedom from unsafe practices.
“Safety must shift from being a compliance requirement to a cultural norm,” he said.
He called for stronger governance to ensure policies translate into action.
“Standards on paper collapse in implementation without accountability. Regulators must be empowered and industries must embrace transparency, because hidden safety reports cost lives,” he added.
According to him, government must prioritise inspections and legal enforcement.
He further urged employers to invest in their workers.
“The civil society must demand accountability, and professionals must lead by example,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Soji Olalokun, Country Director of WSO Nigeria, said safety should be seen as a way of life rather than just compliance.
He noted that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimated 2.7 million lives are lost globally every year to work-related incidents.
Olalokun stressed that the human and economic impact of such tragedies underscored the need for a proactive safety culture.
He said the event aimed to highlight strategies to strengthen workplace safety amid economic and environmental pressures.
According to him, the conference’s essence was to educate, innovate, recognise, inspire, empower, and build capacity.
He explained that it would provide a platform for knowledge-sharing on occupational standards.
“It will also enhance governance, risk management, and environmental safety, while exploring technology and leadership in shaping effective policies,” he added.
Olalokun identified weak regulation enforcement and poor training as major challenges in the sector.
He said that without strong leadership frameworks, even the best safety policies would fail.
He, therefore, urged participants to commit to being safety ambassadors within their spheres of influence.
NAN reports that partners at the forum noted emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and predictive analytics could help Nigeria manage risks more effectively.
The programme’s highpoint was the presentation of World Safety Awards to individuals and organisations that demonstrated outstanding commitment to health, safety, and environmental standards.
One of the recipients, Amb. Maurice Odiete, President and Rector of Highstone Global University, USA, said the recognition would encourage further workplace safety improvements.
“This validates our years of effort in creating safer workspaces. It will also motivate us to deepen our safety culture going forward,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
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