By Angela Atabo
The Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA) has called for greater attention to mental wellness, stress management and healthy workplace relationships to enhance productivity in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Dr Ayodeji Adeyemo, National President of CCESSA, made the call on Saturday at the end of the association’s 2026 Annual National Seminar in Abuja.
The event had as its theme: “Mental Health Challenges and Stress Management Strategies in the Nigerian Construction Industry”.
Adeyemo said the seminar was designed to equip construction workers with practical skills to manage workplace pressure, maintain healthy family relationships and protect their mental well-being.
He said the demanding nature of construction work, coupled with rising living costs and increasing responsibilities, made it necessary for workers to develop effective stress management strategies.
“The ability to manage stress is essential not only for workers’ personal well-being but also for maintaining harmonious relationships at home and improving performance at work.
“We thought we should have a programme where people know how to take care of their mental health and how to manage stress.
“This is so that aside from losing our jobs, because even currently companies are sacking our people, we do not lose our families,” he said.
The CCESSA president urged workers to prioritise their health, take adequate rest and engage their employers constructively when faced with excessive workloads.
He also called on management of construction companies to promote reasonable work schedules and ensure that employees had sufficient time to rest and recover.
Also speaking, Mr Cyprian Ighalo, National Deputy President, CCESSA, said the seminar provided an opportunity for workers to reflect on their health, financial challenges and professional responsibilities.
Ighalo said construction workers played an important role in national development, given the industry’s contribution to employment and infrastructure delivery.
He called for policies that would strengthen the sector, protect workers’ welfare and encourage construction companies to retain qualified personnel.
According to him, improving workers’ welfare will benefit not only employees and their families but also the wider economy.
The association’s National Financial Secretary, Florence Ogundare, highlighted additional pressures confronting women in construction.
She said they often combined demanding professional responsibilities with domestic and family obligations.
Ogundare said the seminar had reinforced the need for women to prioritise their health, take scheduled breaks, speak up about health concerns and maintain consistent sleep routine
She also encouraged workers to reduce late-night social media use and adopt healthy sleep habits, noting that adequate rest was essential for recovery and effective performance.
Also, Mrs Temilola Olagunju, a British-Nigerian senior psychiatric and mental health nurse, urged workers to take personal responsibility for their mental well-being.
She urged them to develop healthy coping mechanisms and maintaining supportive relationships.
Olagunju identified adequate sleep, leisure activities, trusted relationships and early recognition of emotional distress as important elements of mental wellness.
She advised participants to recognise signs of overwhelming stress and seek appropriate support before the situation deteriorated.
Another resource person, Stephen Ince, a UK-based mental health specialist, said good mental health helped individuals cope with everyday challenges, maintain healthy relationships, manage emotions and achieve personal and professional goals.
Ince encouraged workers to communicate their concerns early and seek professional assistance when necessary.
Once urged employers to create supportive workplaces where mental health challenges could be discussed without stigma.
Mr Uyi-Aivinhyenyo Osagie, a labour officer and public-sector reform expert, highlighted the importance of self-awareness, empathy, emotional control and respectful communication in managing workplace disagreements.
He said strengthening interpersonal relationships would promote teamwork, cooperation and effective leadership in construction and engineering workplaces.
Similarly, Kayode Onileowo, a management and human development expert, advised workers to approach tight deadlines with proper planning, calmness and effective communication.
He encouraged employees to anticipate possible challenges, organise their tasks and maintain regular communication with colleagues to achieve project objectives.(NAN)
Edited by Uche Anunne
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