The Director General(DG) of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, has called for greater protection of Nigerian workers from occupational hazards.
Speaking during the commemoration of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work in Ilorin, the DG, Comrade Issa Aremu, decried the increasing number of work-related deaths caused by preventable accidents and diseases.
Represented by the Director of the Trade Union Education Department, Mr Michael Raji, Aremu urged a concerted effort involving government, employers, and workers to address the challenge.
According to the 2023 report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), an estimated 2.3 million workers die each year globally due to work-related accidents and illnesses.
“And about 330,000 from fatal accidents and nearly 2 million from diseases.”
Aremu stressed the urgent need for widespread awareness campaigns to promote healthy and safe workplaces.
He added that the ILO had emphasised the preventability of most work-related deaths, particularly through a renewed focus on disease prevention.
Aremu also called for a strategic partnership between MINILS and the Occupational Health and Safety Department of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to advance workplace safety education.
“Decent work is not only about fair pay but also about a healthy and safe work environment,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Joseph Ogar, Acting Head of the Social Protection Department at the Institute, underscored the vital role of workers in economic development and stressed the need for mechanisms to safeguard their health and well-being.
He spoke on the theme: “Digital Labour: Exploring the Impact of AI and Automation on Worker Safety and Well-being.”
Ogar noted that the event aimed to foster knowledge sharing and equip workers with tools to adapt safely to evolving digital technologies.
