To safeguard staff, corps members, visitors, and government property, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has committed to boosting compliance with occupational health, safety, and environmental standards across all its formations.
The scheme said it would intensify efforts to identify workplace hazards, assess risks, prevent injuries and illnesses, protect the environment and ensure compliance with relevant safety regulations.
NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, made the commitment during the maiden Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Schedule Officers Workshop in Abuja.
Speaking through the Director of Human Resource Management, Nura Umar, Nafiu said the workshop’s theme, “Preventing Workplace Hazards and Creating a Safe Environment in All NYSC Formations,” highlighted the importance of workplace safety, occupational health and environmental sustainability to effective administration and service delivery.
He urged all NYSC formations to prioritise regular workplace inspections, risk assessments, proper maintenance of safety equipment, fire drills, first-aid preparedness and emergency response procedures.
“We must therefore move beyond reacting to incidents and embrace a proactive safety culture,” the director-general said.
Nafiu charged participants to apply the knowledge acquired at the workshop to identify hazards, assess risks and promote continuous safety awareness across their respective formations.
He also urged them to develop clear action plans and demonstrate renewed commitment to creating safer and healthier working environments.
The Director of the General Services Department, Yetunde Baderinwa, described the workshop as an important step towards establishing a coordinated and sustainable approach to occupational health, safety and environmental management throughout the scheme.
She stressed that safeguarding the lives and wellbeing of NYSC officials, visitors, service providers and other stakeholders was a collective responsibility.
Participants included Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Schedule Officers from the 36 state NYSC secretariats and the Federal Capital Territory.
The statement was issued by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu.
What You Should Know
The NYSC is shifting its approach to workplace safety by moving away from reactive measures and adopting a proactive safety culture across all state secretariats and formations nationwide.
- Positive Impact: Enhanced safety measures, regular risk assessments, and proper maintenance of safety equipment will create a much safer and healthier working environment for corps members and staff.
- Potential Concerns: Effective implementation will heavily depend on continuous monitoring and strict adherence by schedule officers across all 36 states and the FCT.
