Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has raised concerns over disregard and non-compliance to safety standards and regulations by several public and private institutions across the country.

Represented by his Deputy, Benjamin Kalu at the inauguration of the House Committee on Safety Standards and formal launch of its Strategic Document, the speaker the right of the citizen to a decent place of work, devoid of hazards is fundamental in any society and has been consistently included in all declarations of human rights globally.

Speaker Abbas He said the nation’s dilemma has been how best to translate it to reality, as the task of identifying, eliminating, and controlling hazards though noble, has been very challenging.

Abbas said despite measures taken by government, institutions, NGOs, and other safety advocates, Nigeria continues to witness the devastating effects of unsafe acts which for the most part, is a result of the disregard for existing safety standards and regulations.

He said that the parliament is saddened by catastrophic events across the country ranging from fatal motor accidents, explosions, boat mishaps, accidental discharge, market fires that have claimed innocent lives, and loss of properties.

While re-echoing the government’s commitment to addressing matters that would jeopardize the lives or assets of citizens, the Speaker urged heads of both private and public institutions to wake up to their responsibility and control the risks inherent in their operations.

Commending the pragmatic strategic plan developed by the Committee, Abbas said the goals are apt, and reassured the Committee of the support of the Leadership of the House.

He expressed optimism that their legislative and oversight functions would resolve the challenges faced by Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and the Private Sector.

The speaker said: “It is with utmost pleasure that I address you on this special gathering to formally inaugurate a very important Committee of this 10th Assembly. The Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, ably chaired by Hon (Dr.) Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi, FNSE. Despite some measures taken by government, institutions, NGOs, and other safety advocates, we continue to witness the devastating effects of unsafe acts and conditions, which for the most part, is a result of the disregard for existing safety standards and regulations.

“Within the few weeks of this year, we have been saddened by catastrophic events across the country ranging from fatal motor accidents, explosions, boat mishaps, accidental discharge, market fires, and much more which has claimed innocent lives and loss of properties.

“Consequently, the leadership and membership of this Committee have been carefully selected to reverse this trend using all the tools available to us as the legislative arm of government. I am confident that their legislative and oversight functions would resolve the challenges faced by Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and the Private Sector.

“I am particularly pleased with the well-articulated and pragmatic strategic plan developed by the Committee within this short time. The goals are apt, and I wish to reassure the Committee of the support of the Leadership of the House.

“I hereby urge Heads of both private and public institutions to wake up to their responsibility and control the risks inherent in their operations. They should implement a systematic and holistic approach to safety (systems, behaviour, process, etc) and engage competent persons to manage them.

“We at the House of Representatives have not exempted ourselves from this scrutiny; in addition to the upgrade of our safety and security architecture, we are conducting a fire risk assessment of our complex, which will be followed by a fire drill in due course. On this note, I wish to formally launch the Strategic Document of the House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations,” he added.

The Chairman House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi, promised to leverage the huge potential of human resources available to the committee.

He said that the primary goal of the committee would be to guarantee the safety of all Nigerians through the use of legislative tools. (The Nation)

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