The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has charged employers of labour, especially managers of production and service firms, on occupational and environmental safety of employees in workplaces throughout the country.
The Branch Manager of NSITF, Enugu State, Ms Uzoamaka Oraegbu, gave the charge while speaking with newsmen at the 35th Enugu International Trade Fair.
The fair, which began on April 5, is themed: “Promoting made-in-Nigeria products for global competitiveness.”
Oraegbu noted that the Trust Fund undertakes periodic visits to firms to ensure compliance with the highest form of safety standards without compromise.
The branch manager reminded that the NSITF has been at the forefront of sensitising employers in Enugu State on the need and benefit of a safe and harmonious working environment for many years.
She stressed that employers must ensure that walkways are cleared of obstructions, staircases are well-constructed, with rails and well-lit and ground tiles are never slippery, among others.
“The NSITF is primarily established to ensure employees get compensation claim or right in the event of occupational, health and environmental hazard in their place of work.
“Thus, we ensure that any injury, health issue, disability or even accident an employee is faced with, in a workplace or during work is duly and adequately compensated.
“For those that lose their lives in the process of work or through workplace hazards; we ensure that their next of kin or immediate relatives are adequately compensated,” she said.
Speaking on the trade fair, the branch manager noted an increase in the turnout of people wishing to know more about what the NSITF was doing.
She said: “In the course of this particular fair, more people have visited our stand to learn more about what we do in NSITF and how we operate.
“We have more people visiting the stand this year than in previous years and more employers registered and enrolled with our NSITF scheme in this fair, which shows a very remarkable improvement,” Oraegbu said.