Only Certified Health & Safety Practitioners to be Recognized – Reps Committee Chair”

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards, Abubakar Gumi has said that only Health and Safety practitioners duly certified by the National Executive Committee of Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria will be recognised to practice in the country.

The new executive will be elected at its Annual General Meeting and unification conference scheduled to hold in Abuja between the 17th and 19th, October, 2024.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja Gummi said the decision was based on agreement reached by members of the Caretaker Committee of the Institute put in place to unify the various factions by the National Assembly

He said when elected, the new Executive is expected to carry out fresh certifications of Health and Safety practitioners in the country after revalidation exercise which will be conducted, and new certificates will be issued to members.

“As you may know, ISPON was officially established in 2014 by an Act of the National Assembly. However, in 2016, issues surrounding elections and leadership transfers led to the division of ISPON into three factions, greatly reducing the institution’s activities.

He explained that despite efforts made by the Inspector General of Police, the American Society of Safety Professionals, the National Industrial Safety Council, the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Navy, and many well-meaning individuals to reconcile the factions, yielded no results.

“In response to this, the National Assembly inaugurated a Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, which had as one of its primary objectives to unify ISPON for the benefit of promoting safety in Nigeria.

“The committee gave all factions equal opportunities to address them, and a final meeting was organized to effect reconciliation.

“The outcome of this meeting was the creation of a Care Taker Committee (CTC) to conduct the affairs of organizing a conference and AGM to elect new executives to govern ISPON as a unified body.

“All national leaders endorsed the communique in a joyous atmosphere, marking a new beginning for ISPON. Ladies and gentlemen, standing here with me are members of the Care taker committee elected by all the factions.

“While some individuals may have chosen to withdraw from the process due to selfish reasons, we want to make it clear that no one is above the law, and no individual or group can hold the country to ransom for personal gain.

It is imperative that every employer of labor in Nigeria takes note that after October 19th, a new executive will be elected to govern ISPON.

“From that day forward, all HES (Health and Environmental Safety) practitioners must obtain the new ISPON certification to practice as stipulated by the ISPON Act of 2014.

“The National Assembly will only recognize certifications issued by the new executives.

“A revalidation exercise will be conducted, and new certificates will be issued. We urge all stakeholders to cooperate with this process and support the unity of ISPON.”

Also speaking, a past president of ISPON, Mr. Shaw Fregene who midwives the bill that produced the act that established ISPON, said that the crisis in the institute was as a result of selfish interest.

“And since I handed over, there were skirmishes, but the climax of it was 2016, when most members disagreed with the then leadership. They were not doing things the way they should be done. The act should be followed and people’s rights should be respected.

“After two years, you go for re-election. After that, your tenure expires. So how can somebody stay on a position for four years without quitting six years? And he wants to personify the position to himself, which is wrong.” Mr. Fregene said.

Similarly, a former Secretary of ISPON, Mr. Iyenoma Osazee, said that being a member of the institute had a lot of benefits.

He noted that the crisis gave birth to so many foreign bodies and unprofessionalism.

“We are not against them. In South Africa, you cannot, if only if you come with the highest foreign qualification in health and safety, you are not allowed to practice until you go through the rudiments of their process and you are FAN certified. You can add the foreign qualification to what you have.

“But here we are. It has become everything for Tom, Dick, and Harry. The issue actually broke out, and the interpretation of the act was done upside down, and it gave birth to where we are today”. Mr. Osazee said.