By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Honourable Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Bello Goronyo, has reiterated the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening workplace safety standards in Nigeria, stressing that occupational health and safety must remain a national priority for sustainable development.
Speaking at a national stakeholders’ workshop on Workplace Safety and Health held on 28th August 2025, at the Ministry’s Hall, the Minister emphasized that workplace safety is not merely a regulatory duty but a shared responsibility that requires the active involvement of government, the private sector, labour unions, professional bodies, and society at large.
“When safety measures and protocols are enforced, accidents reduce drastically, productivity improves, and the human development index records significant gains. Protecting human lives must be at the center of every workplace policy and practice,” Barr. Goronyo stated.
The Minister acknowledged existing challenges such as weak enforcement, inadequate regulations, and low awareness, but called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to adapt global best practices to Nigeria’s realities. He commended the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) for its leadership in promoting international standards, while also applauding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said “is already yielding results across all sectors.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s workforce as one of the nation’s greatest assets, Goronyo warned that the loss of lives and productivity due to unsafe work environments cannot be ignored. Research, he noted, shows that organizations prioritizing workplace safety enjoy higher employee morale, reduced injuries, and improved efficiency.
The workshop also featured goodwill messages from senior stakeholders:
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Olufunsho Adebiyi (represented by the Director, Central Workshop and Equipment, Engr. Atule Isaac), stressed that workplace safety is especially critical in high-risk sectors such as construction, oil and gas, and manufacturing, as well as in the informal economy where enforcement is weak. He urged employers to treat safety as part of production costs while encouraging workers to adhere strictly to safety guidelines. He reaffirmed that the Ministry remains committed to ensuring that workplace safety is upheld across all its operations and projects.
