The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja issued a new regulation on the use of lifts, escalators and conveyors as part of measures to ensure safety of workers where the facilities are available.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu said this at the public presentation of the newly-approved regulation on lifts, escalators and conveyors.
He said the need to issue a regulation on lifts, escalators and conveyors arose from a noticeable gap in government’s effort to protect all Nigerians at work in places where the facilities were used.
Wogu said the gap had manifested in the form of increasing frequency of accidents, injuries and deaths associated with the facilities.
“I resolve to exercise the powers conferred on me as the Minister of Labour and Productivity, by section 49(i)(b)of the Factories Act CAP F1, LFN 2004,” he said.
He, however, said that the ministry would not hesitate to ensure strict enforcement of the regulation through its labour inspection services.
Wogu said that the regulation emerged after a painstaking consultative process, which received approval of President Goodluck Jonathan on June 3.
He called on all Nigerians, particularly the media, to create the needed awareness not only about the regulation but the need for all persons using lifts, escalators and conveyors to maintain and operate them safely.