The Federal Government has warned employers nationwide that unsafe workplaces and practices that endanger Nigerian workers will no longer be tolerated, declaring that job creation must never come at the cost of human lives.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, issued the stern warning on Tuesday in Abuja at the NSITF–NECA Safe Workplace Intervention Project 2025 Awards Ceremony and Interactive Enlightenment Forum. She insisted that employers who violate occupational safety laws would face sanctions and criminal prosecution where negligence leads to loss of life.
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association and the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund stated that workplace safety should no longer be seen as a mere regulatory obligation but as a strategic business imperative that enhances productivity, protects human capital, and supports long-term sustainability.
They noted that SWIP promotes safer systems of work, deepens compliance with the Employees’ Compensation Act, and fosters collaboration between regulators, employers, and workers across high-risk sectors.
SWIP is a collaborative occupational health and safety initiative designed to improve workplace safety standards across Nigeria. The project involves auditing corporate workplaces on safety policies, infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and overall compliance with national and international safety best practices. In 2025, 200 companies across the country’s six geopolitical zones were audited under the initiative. Outstanding performers were awarded five ambulances and other safety equipment.
In her keynote address, Onyejeocha said the government is shifting its focus toward prevention, insisting that workers should not be injured or killed before corrective action is taken. She warned, “Let me be very clear on the position of the government. This government will no longer tolerate employers who endanger Nigerians in the name of productivity. Creating jobs must never come at the cost of human lives. We will not create jobs and kill our people in the process. Safety is not optional. Safety is the law.”
Citing existing labour and criminal laws, Onyejeocha stressed that employers whose negligence results in fatalities could face prosecution, including manslaughter charges. “Employers who violate occupational safety laws will be sanctioned, and where negligence leads to loss of life, they will be prosecuted in accordance with the law. We will not play politics with the lives of Nigerian workers,” she said.
The minister also emphasised that the Employees’ Compensation Act 2010 provides a framework for supporting injured workers, but prevention remains the government’s priority. “Compensation alone is not enough. Workers should not have to be injured or die before we act. The first duty of every employer and regulator is to ensure that accidents do not happen in the first place,” she added.
Describing SWIP as a practical tool for identifying workplace risks and embedding safer systems across industries, Onyejeocha noted that the Abuja event marked the third regional engagement under the programme, following earlier sessions in Lagos and Enugu.
“From mining in Zamfara, construction and manufacturing in Kaduna, to agro-processing and trade in Kano, millions of Nigerians earn livelihoods in sectors with real occupational risks. Safety in these workplaces is not optional. It is a responsibility,” she said. She commended organisations recognised at the event for demonstrating that strong labour standards and profitable businesses can coexist.
NECA President Ifeanyi Okoye said concluding SWIP 2025 in Abuja was symbolic, reflecting the city’s status as the country’s policy and regulatory nerve centre. “Workplace safety is no longer just a regulatory obligation; it is a strategic business imperative. Safe workplaces enhance productivity, protect human capital, reduce compensation exposure, and support business sustainability,” he said.
Similarly, NSITF Managing Director Oluwaseun Faleye said the agency is repositioning itself from a reactive, compensation-focused institution to a proactive force for prevention. “For too long, workplace safety was seen as a box to be ticked to avoid sanctions. SWIP has shattered that glass ceiling. We would rather spend one naira teaching you how to prevent a fall than spend one million naira treating a spinal cord injury,” he said.
Faleye added that the awards aim to position recognised organisations as role models in their sectors. “A safe workplace is an efficient workplace. A protected worker is a productive worker. By receiving this honour, you are now lighthouses in your industry. Smaller companies must see that it is possible to operate in Nigeria and maintain global safety standards,” he said.
NSITF disclosed that it has registered about 1.2 million employers and over 7.7 million employees nationwide, conducted 814 incident investigations, and inspected 3,986 workplaces in 2025. A total of 142,576 beneficiaries received support, including medical expense refunds, death benefits, disability compensation, retirement benefits, and the provision of prostheses.
NLC Acting General Secretary Benson Upah urged greater collaboration among all stakeholders, stressing that unsafe workplaces ultimately hurt workers, employers, and investors. “Employers owe employees the duty of care, and they also owe themselves the duty of care. If you have healthy, injury-free workers, you get better returns on your investment,” he said.
The event concluded with an awards ceremony recognising organisations that demonstrated exemplary occupational health and safety practices.
