The Oyo State government has commenced a state-wide sensitisation and advocacy campaigns aimed at improving workplace safety, protecting workers’ welfare and preventing industrial crises in the state.
Speaking during the flag-off campaign in Ibadan, the commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, 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 a 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 sensitisation exercise follows the inauguration of the Industrial Crisis Management Team, which will coordinate industrial safety interventions across the state.
He added that the government was also working on establishing a Quality Control Department in the ministry that would 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 was 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.
