FG tackling poor safety standards in foreign companies operating in Nigeria – Onyejeocha, Labour Minister
By Fred Itua, Abuja
Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejocha is the Minister of State for Labour and Employment. She is a former member of the House of Representatives. In this interview, she speaks on labour issues in Nigeria.
One year into your tenure as Minister of Labour, how would you describe your experience in the civil service compared to the many years you spent in the National Assembly as a lawmaker? What differences or similarities have you observed?
My experience in administrative roles is not new, having previously served as a commissioner in Abia state and later a chairperson of my local government. However, I must say that my current role comes with a broader scope of responsibilities, as I now tasked with a national mandate, requiring a wider range of expertise and a greater sense of duty to the nation.
One year into my tenure as Minister of Labour, I have observed significant differences between this role and my time as a lawmaker. As Minister, I am responsible for formulating, driving initiatives and implementing policies, whereas in the National Assembly, I focused on crafting legislation. The civil service requires more administrative and operational oversight, whereas the National Assembly centered on debate and lawmaking and oversight functions. However, both roles involve collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and advocating for constituents’ interests. The main similarity is the commitment to serving the public and driving positive change.
I must express my gratitude for the privilege of serving in this role, which has afforded me the unique opportunity to oversee the nation’s labour ecosystem. It has been a truly enriching experience, and I am deeply thankful to Mr. President for entrusting me with this responsibility, allowing me to make a positive impact on the lives of Nigerians once again.
When you started, you brought a sense of enthusiasm and a private-sector mindset to the ministry which was exemplified by the high-profile closure of a Lagos factory for violating safety protocols. Now, after some time in office, how would you assess the current state of occupational safety compliance nationwide compared to when you first took the helm?
Indeed, I firmly believe that adopting a private sector mindset in the public sector is key to driving progress. We must approach civil service with the same urgency and results-driven attitude as private business. This shift in mentality and approach will boost productivity, leading to tangible development outcomes.
On occupational safety, upon assuming office, I was alarmed to discover the deplorable state of occupational safety in Nigerian companies, particularly those operated by foreign entities. I was almost speechless when we visited a car battery manufacturing facility in Ogun State. That visit revealed the level of environmental hazards in some of these companies and blatant disregard for safety laws, putting staff health at risk. This is not acceptable in other parts of the world. However, our outdated laws that impose minimal penalties, even encourages offenders to continue to look the other way. Take for instance, a paltry of N1, 000 fine for life-threatening offenses is woefully inadequate.
To address this, we are working with the National Assembly to review our labour laws, to ensure that they reflect the gravity of these issues. At the same time the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) department in the Ministry is conducting workshops and campaigns to educate the public on workplace safety. Once the new legislation is enacted, we will intensify enforcement, making it clear that companies operating in Nigeria must adhere to stringent safety standards. We are taking one thing at…