8th June, 2011
The passage of the Lagos State Safety Bill which gave legal backing to the establishment of the state Safety Commission has been described as capable of advancing the success recorded by the Governor Babatunde Fashola-led administration.
According to residents of the state who spoke with Assembly Matters, the bill, when given assent by the governor, would further enhance the call for safety by individuals, firms and government agencies as well as parastatals, especially as it stipulated fines for offenders.
Mr. Adewale Agbaje, a safety expert, explained that the bill was long overdue.
According to him, if well implemented, it would drastically reduce the spate of accidents both in factories and roads.
“If you visit many companies and manufacturing firms in the country, you would think each of the workers have a spare life.
“We know of so many incidents where workers lose their lives under avoidable circumstances. As little as safety helmets, some companies do not have.
“So this bill will make even the ordinary commercial motorcycle rider understand the implication of not using not just a helmet but the type meant for them,†he said.
A consultant, Mr. Akintunde Olowolagba, in his view, said although the bill is geared towards safety of lives and property within the state, he has fears over its implementation.
“If the bill is well implemented, even trivial issues regarding safety would be thoroughly handled.
“But first, the people need to be told about the law and its importance,†he said.
Contacted, the Director General, Mrs. Omolara Odebunmi-Domingo, who spoke through the commission’s spokesperson, Lola Jagunmolu, said she was excited over the passage of the bill.
According to her, the commission had been carrying out massive enlightenment programmes on the importance of safety in firms and industries located in the state.
She said she had also carried out enlightenment awareness on the importance of the bill.
Asked how the law would be enforced, she said the fines were stipulated in the bill but that “if the people follow and obey the law, there may not be need to cajole the people unnecessarily.”