The National President of National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria, Dr Reginald Chidiebere Anyanwu, has expressed concern over the failure of factory operators to comply with provisions of the nation’s safety requirements, leading to unnecessary death of Nigerian workers, whon he said work under pitiable conditions that make him weep.

Dr Anyanwu, who spoke in an interview with News Express, also regretted the inability of the Senate to respond to the anomaly, long after he made an elaborate and detailed presentation to its relevant committee.

His words: “Everyday, I cry for Nigerian workers. And when I see deaths and accidents that happened in industries, I weep. The challenges we are having in industries is enormous; the industries have failed and vehemently refused to adhere to safety and environmental regulations established by the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We have the Factory Act of 2014, which specify the safety requirement for industries. It’s not only foreigners that are killing Nigerians; Nigerian manufacturers are also indulging in killing Nigerian workers. I have taken a lot of actions to ensure that Nigerians are free from destruction, death, and serious injuries that are happening in industries. I spoke to the Senate last week Tuesday: I addressed the Senate Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition Committee, where I tendered the list of Nigerian industries that are killing and disabling Nigerians every day. I waited on the Senate to react to that presentation I made. Why are Nigerians being killed and disabled in industries?

“The Senate will have to answer that question. I’ve addressed them, I’ve given that mandate. If either they do not have powers to react to the presentations I made to the ethics, public petitions and privileges, it’s there for Nigerians to see. I want to use this medium to call on Nigerians working in industries that if you know that the environment you are working is not conducive, or is in a conditions that may kill you: Why don’t you avoid it and give us a call and we can come and address the issues? If you are working in an environment that you think is a threat to your life, why don’t you complain; why don’t you resign, if you can’t complain?”

The national industrial safety boss queried: “What are our lawmakers doing to confront the situation of death in industries? I am provoked and sad. I wrote a large volume of solutions, strategies and lists of companies found wanting; and need to investigate some of such organisations. If it’s not corruption, then what’s the killing of Nigerians in industries? It’s only due to corruption that you will see organisations that are killing Nigerians and you allow the company to go on. You claim that the companies are sealed, but when you do your findings, you will discover that the company is working. I mentioned the cases of African Steel in Ikorodu that is killing people, Chi Limited in Ajao Estate, Seabird, etc.”

On the controversy surrounding minimum wage, Dr Anyanwu noted: “Nigerian workers are suffering; they subject themselves to death because they do not have other sources of income. Minimum wage is an instrument killing Nigerians.”

•Photo shows Dr Reginald Chidiebere Anyanwu.

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