Monday 10- February-2025
The Lagos State Safety Commission at the weekend held its annual Staff Retreat with the theme:
“Repositioning the Safety Commission as a fully Regulatory Agency”. The event, attended by key dignitaries, heads of departments and guests, focused on how to reposition the agency to a fully regulated agency, especially now that the agency had fully established its occupational safety officers Cadre.
Welcoming participants and acknowledging the presence of esteemed Special Guest, including the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Agency, Mr. Sesan Ogundeko, the Director-General of Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, expressed gratitude for their support, sense of dedication and due diligence.
Mojola appreciated the participants, who also doubled as the management team and head of departments of various units in the agency. He, however, pointed out that they need to improve their efforts towards positioning the Agency as fully regulated, especially now that the Commission had succeeded in the establishment of its Occupational Safety Officers’ Cadre.
“In as much as I would commend the management for its contributions to the Agency’s achievements, which, without being economical with the truth, were actualised by all of us here. But we need to be truthful to ourselves that we need to work harder to ensure that the Safety Commission is fully positioned as a fully regulated agency. Let’s build professionalism and ensure Lagos of our dream is achieved”, Mojola said.
He commended Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for always putting the safety of the state, as his priority, adding that this is the more reason why the Agency, as an ambassador of safety, should think outside the box and not rest on its oars as far as taking the safety of the state to a higher level. Let’s move from where we were last year to a new sphere”, he said.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr.
Sesan Ogundeko, said without any doubt the Lagos State Safety Commission is an Agency with exceptional performance and, as such, recognized by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He, however, warned that they should not relent until Lagos delivers on its individual and joint mandate as far as the safety and progress of the state is concerned.
“Apart from safeguarding lives and upholding the standard of work and domestic abode, you as safety officers must ensure a very safe, secure, functional and productive Lagos State that all of us would be proud of, including our action and ever-ready Governor”, Ogundeko said.
He emphasised that “The Retreat is not just about theoretical discussions; it is about laying a practical roadmap for the Lagos State’s safety Commission to maintain its standard and be fully positioned as a regulated Agency. So you are expected to contribute positively to discussions to move the Agency forward”.
Earlier, while declaring the Retreat open, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Sesan Ogundeko,
Earlier, while declaring the Retreat open, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Sesan Ogundeko, commended the Lagos State Safety Commission and urged participants to fully engage, share insights, challenge conventional thinking, and develop actionable strategies to position the Lagos Safety Commission.
The Executive Director, Safety Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation at the Commission, Engr.
Jamiu Badmos in his lecture said the need for the establishment of the Commission was borne out of the dream to build a society that values lives through a change in unsafe behaviours, and attitudes that would increase life expectancy, and national productivity and ultimately improve quality of life, reduce accidents, injuries, illnesses, diseases and enhance the conducive environment for investment and continuity.
Different papers were presented by the heads of the department of the agency with various achievements, challenges and prospective action plans to move the Agency forward in 2025.