By Stella Odueme
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has pledged to strengthen occupational health and safety standards across its formations nationwide to protect staff, Corps Members, visitors and government property.
The Scheme said it would intensify efforts to identify workplace hazards, assess potential risks, prevent occupational injuries and illnesses, protect the environment and ensure compliance with relevant safety regulations.
The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, gave the assurance at the maiden Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Schedule Officers Workshop held in Abuja.
According to a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, on Monday, Nafiu, who was represented by the Director of Human Resource Management, Mr Nura Umar, said the workshop's theme, “Preventing Workplace Hazards and Creating a Safe Environment in All NYSC Formations,” emphasised the need to integrate safety practices and environmental sustainability into the Scheme's daily operations.
He noted that maintaining a safe working environment was essential for effective administration and improved service delivery.
The Director-General called on all NYSC formations to conduct regular workplace inspections and risk assessments, maintain safety equipment, organise fire drills, ensure first-aid readiness and establish effective emergency response procedures.
“We must therefore move beyond reacting to incidents and embrace a proactive safety culture,” he said.
He urged participants to put the knowledge gained at the workshop into practice by identifying potential hazards, evaluating risks and promoting continuous safety awareness in their respective formations.
Nafiu further tasked the officers with developing clear action plans and demonstrating renewed commitment to creating safer and healthier workplaces throughout the Scheme.
Earlier, the Director of the General Services Department, Mrs Yetunde Baderinwa, described the workshop as a significant step towards establishing a coordinated and sustainable framework for occupational health, safety and environmental management across NYSC formations.
She emphasised that safeguarding the lives and wellbeing of NYSC officials, visitors, service providers and other stakeholders was a shared responsibility that required the commitment of everyone.
The workshop was attended by Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Schedule Officers from the NYSC state secretariats across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.