Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) - Nigeria (Ratification: 1994)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the short information provided by the Government in its first report. The Committee draws the Government's attention to the necessity to give in its first report, in accordance with the report form for the Convention adopted by the Governing Body, full information on each of the provisions of the Convention and each of the questions set out in this form.

I. The Committee requests the Government to provide clarifications concerning the following points:

1. Article 4. The Committee asks the Government to indicate measures taken or contemplated to formulate, implement and periodically review the national policy provided for in this Article. Please describe the manner in which the most representative organizations of employers and workers were consulted.

2. Article 5(b). The Committee notes that the Factories Act in its Part III establishes measures in order to ensure safe use of some material elements of work such as machinery and equipment, cranes, hoists and lifts, chains, ropes and lifting tackle, vessels with dangerous liquids, etc. The Government is requested to indicate measures taken with a view to the adaptation of such material elements as well as working time and organization of work to the physical and mental capacities of workers.

3. Article 8. The Government is requested to indicate the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers concerned were consulted.

4. Article 16, paragraphs 1 and 2. The Government is requested to indicate the legislative or other provisions whereby employers are required to take the action called for in these provisions of the Convention.

5. Article 19(d). The Committee notes that section 23 of the Factories Act fixes the obligation of training and supervision of inexperienced workers at the undertakings. While this provision of the Convention envisages arrangements under which the workers' representatives are given appropriate training in occupational safety and health, the Government is requested to indicate measures ensuring the training with respect to the workers' representatives.

II. The Government is requested to supply information relating to the following points:

1. Article 5(d) and (e). The extent to which the policy referred to in Article 4 of the Convention covers: (1) the communication and cooperation in questions of occupational safety and health at all appropriate levels including those of the working group and the undertaking; and (2) the protection of workers and their representatives from disciplinary measures as a result of actions properly taken by them in conformity with the above-mentioned policy.

2. Article 7. Arrangements made for the reviews provided for in this Article, specifying the intervals at which they take place.

3. Article 10. Measures taken to provide guidance to employers and workers.

4. Article 11(b), (e) and (f). The extent to which the competent authority or authorities ensure that the functions enumerated in the mentioned provisions are carried out.

5. Article 12. Measures taken with a view to ensuring that duties enumerated in this Article would be done by persons who design, manufacture, import, provide or transfer machinery, equipment or substances for occupational use.

6. Article 13. Legislative or other provisions whereby the protection of a worker who removed himself from a work situation which he has reasonable justification to believe presents an imminent and serious danger.

7. Article 14. Measures taken or contemplated with a view to promoting the inclusion of questions of occupational safety and health and the working environment at all levels of education and training.

8. Article 15. Arrangements to ensure the necessary coordination between various authorities and bodies called upon to give effect to Parts II and III of the Convention.

9. Article 19(a) to (c), (e) and (f). Legislative and/or practical measures taken to give effect to the mentioned subparagraphs of this Article.

10. Article 20. Arrangements made to ensure cooperation between management and workers and/or their representatives within the undertaking in the devising and implementation of the measures provided in Articles 16 to 19 of the Convention.