Stakeholders demand end to ISPON crisis “within six months”

Stakeholders in the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) have called for a quick resolution to the crisis rocking the institute.

This was part of recommendations/resolutions contained in a communique issued after a Strategic Stakeholder’s Engagement for Sustainable Practice of Safety Management in Nigeria held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CBD, Agidingbi, Lagos on December 9, 2021.

A copy of the communique was forwarded to this newspaper on Monday.

HSENations can report that for more than four years, ISPON has been divided into two factions, with two presidents and two governing boards claiming to be the authentic leadership of the institute.

Apparently tired of the impasse that has become the bane of the institute’s development, the stakeholders demanded an end and called for reunification within six months.

“The stakeholders noted with dismay the leadership crisis that has bedeviled the institute and emphasized the need for a reunification within the next six months.

“That there is lack of competencies in the safety industry, unprofessional conduct by safety professionals leading to poor reporting of accident / incidents, no credible data, employment of quacks, unhealthy rivalry, and non-development of standard curriculum for safety.

“There are no deliberate collaborative efforts with schools, colleges, and vocational institutions to incorporate the practice of occupational health and safety in school curricula.

“Non- conduction of deliberate research to align the practice of safety in Nigeria with global best practice or add to the body of knowledge in the profession especially as it relates to in-housing professional safety practices in Nigerian workplaces and Africa as a whole.

“There is also not enough collaboration with the relevant agencies of government saddled with the responsibilities of enhancing the enforcement of safety practices across workplaces and creating the much-needed awareness across formal and informal sectors of the economy,” the communique read in part.

The stakeholders recommended, “Adequate competence development packages and globally acceptable professional ethics are instituted within the industry and necessary assistance accorded to professionals by way of refresher courses to improve the practice of safety management within the country and to the continent by extension.

“The crisis within the Institute that had hindered the enforcement of the ISPON Act 2014 be resolved within the shortest time possible.

“Safety Management should be included in school curricula across Nigeria’s educational system in line with international standards.

“Safety Culture principles are entrenched in the management system of her corporate members and driven by the individual professional members in their day-to-day safety and health responsibilities.

“Liaison with the House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations and other safety-related Committees of the National Assembly should be maintained to ensure the effectiveness of their oversight functions in Safety Management.

“Adequate resources should be invested in human capital development and research in Safety Management towards stemming the tide of incidents and accidents in the country.

“Effective awareness campaigns should be organized regularly through collaboration with government agencies for result oriented enforcement strategies through the establishment of a Safety Regulatory and Enforcement Corp. It must be made clear that the above-mentioned Corp will not interfere with the functions of the Factory Inspectorate Division of the Ministry of Labour and Employment for example, and other governmental agencies that may benefit from the proposed Safety Corp but will be supportive of them in meeting their onerous responsibility.”

In conclusion, the leadership of ISPON said it was using the medium “to appeal for co-operation from all stakeholders for the effective implementation of this communiqué towards making Nigeria safer for all”.