Oyo State Govt Kicks Off Safety Sensitization For Industrial Workers

The Oyo State Government has commenced a statewide sensitisation and advocacy campaign aimed at improving workplace safety, protecting workers’ welfare, and preventing industrial crises in the state.

Speaking during the flag-off campaign in Ibadan on Thursday, the Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Hon. Adeniyi Adebisi, said the exercise was a proactive step to engage industries, educate stakeholders, and build a culture of safety and mutual respect in the workplace.

“As a responsible and responsive government, we should not wait for crisis before engaging our industries. They play a vital role in the growth of Oyo State’s economy, and this initiative will allow us to interact with them directly, verify data, understand their challenges, and work together to find solutions. It will also help boost the state’s revenue,” the Commissioner stated.

He explained that the sensitization exercise follows the inauguration of the Industrial Crisis Management Team, which will coordinate industrial safety interventions across the state.

He added that the government is also working on establishing a Quality Control Department in the Ministry that will serve as a link between government and industries, ensuring that products made in Oyo State meet acceptable standards locally and nationally.

The Commissioner noted that the campaign will involve monthly visits to production companies and industrial hubs.

The second week of August has been set aside for Ibadan-based industries, while the third week will focus on Oyo town as the first pilot location outside the state capital.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olajide Okesade, said the visit to industries such as Sumal Foods Limited, Seven-Up Bottling Company, Zartech Limited and Nisalee Industries Limited, were to interact with management and union representatives, ensure workers’ welfare, and verify that health facilities and safety standards are in place.

He stated that the essence of the outreach is to prevent disputes, protect employees’ rights, and ensure compliance with safety regulations as directed by the Federal Government.

“His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, is committed to making workers’ welfare in the private sector as good as those in the public sector. We have observed high compliance levels, but it is important to sustain these standards,” he said.

As part of the ongoing exercise, the sensitization team toured the factories and other facilities to assess and inspect critical infrastructure such as toilets, canteens, staff clinics, fire control systems including extinguishers and fire trucks, as well as first aid facilities.

The Ministry noted that this same inspection and engagement process was carried out in all the previous factories visited during the campaign, including Sumal Foods Limited, Seven-Up Bottling Company, and Zartech Limited.

The exercise, according to the Ministry, will continue across other industries and companies in Oyo State.

The sensitization exercise is being carried out by the Industrial Crisis Management Unit, which was established following a resolution by the Oyo State House of Assembly in November 2024.

The Unit was one of the key recommendations of the Joint Committee on Employment, Labour, Productivity, Pensions, Health, Nutrition and Food Security after investigating the July 22, 2024 incident at the “YALE 3” branch of Sumal Foods Limited, Oluyole Industrial Estate, Ibadan.