• DG Nafiu Tasks Safety Officers on Hazard Prevention, Emergency Preparedness
By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening workplace safety measures and ensuring a safe and healthy environment for staff, Corps Members, visitors and government properties across its formations nationwide.
The Scheme said it would intensify efforts to identify occupational hazards, assess risks, prevent workplace injuries and illnesses, protect the environment and ensure compliance with relevant safety standards.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, stated this at the maiden edition of the Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Schedule Officers Workshop held in Abuja.
Speaking through the Director of Human Resource Management, Mr. Nura Umar, the Director-General said the workshop’s theme, “Preventing Workplace Hazards and Creating a Safe Environment in All NYSC Formations,” underscored the importance of workplace safety, occupational health and environmental sustainability to effective administration and service delivery.
Nafiu urged all NYSC formations to prioritise regular workplace inspections, risk assessments, proper maintenance of safety equipment, fire drills, first-aid preparedness and effective emergency response procedures.
“We must therefore move beyond reacting to incidents and embrace a proactive safety culture,” he said.
He charged participants to translate the knowledge acquired at the workshop into practical actions by identifying workplace hazards, assessing risks and promoting continuous safety awareness across their respective formations.
The NYSC chief also urged the officers to develop clear action plans and demonstrate renewed commitment towards making every NYSC formation safer and healthier for all.
Earlier, the Director of the General Services Department, Mrs. Yetunde Baderinwa, described the workshop as a significant step towards establishing a coordinated and sustainable approach to occupational health, safety and environmental management throughout the Scheme.
Baderinwa emphasised that ensuring the safety of NYSC officials, visitors, service providers and other stakeholders remained a collective responsibility requiring the active participation of all concerned.
She noted that a coordinated approach to workplace safety and environmental management would help strengthen safety standards and promote a healthier working environment across the Scheme’s formations.
Participants at the maiden workshop comprised Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Schedule Officers from the 36 state NYSC secretariats and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The workshop is expected to strengthen the capacity of the officers to identify potential workplace risks, implement preventive measures and promote a sustainable safety culture throughout the NYSC.
