By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Employers, policymakers, and other key stakeholders have been urged to intensify efforts toward developing and sustaining healthy psychosocial work environments as a critical pathway to improved productivity, employee well-being, and organisational resilience.

This call was made by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) in commemoration of the 2026 World Day for Safety and Health at Work, themed Good Psychosocial Working Environments: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organisations.

The Director General of NECA, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, noted that this year’s theme highlights the growing importance of mental and emotional well-being in the workplace and reinforces the need for a more holistic approach to occupational safety and health.

He further stated that while progress has been made in improving workplace practices, there is a need for sustained and collective action to further strengthen psychosocial conditions in line with evolving global standards, including guidance from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“Across sectors, there is increasing recognition that workplace wellbeing extends beyond physical safety. A healthy psychosocial work environment where employees feel valued, supported, and able to perform optimally is essential for organisational effectiveness and long-term sustainability,” the DG said.

He emphasised that psychosocial wellbeing is influenced by how work is structured, managed, and experienced, and encouraged stakeholders to adopt intentional strategies that promote positive work environments. These include clear job roles, manageable workloads, supportive leadership, open communication, and policies that promote work-life balance and inclusion.

“Creating healthy psychosocial work environments requires deliberate and continuous effort. Employers, in particular, play a pivotal role by embedding supportive systems and fostering workplace cultures rooted in trust, respect, and fairness,” he added.

Mr Oyerinde also underscored the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks and workplace practices that support employee well-being, including access to counselling services, employee engagement mechanisms, and transparent organisational policies.

He further referenced the NSITF–NECA Safe Workplace Intervention Project (SWIP) as a practical demonstration of NECA’s commitment to advancing workplace safety through proactive and preventive approaches. The initiative, implemented in collaboration with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), evolved from the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.

“While the Employees’ Compensation Scheme provides support in cases of workplace incidents, NECA continues to emphasise prevention as the most effective approach to workplace safety. This includes expanding the scope of safety initiatives to address psychosocial risks alongside physical hazards,” he stated.

Through SWIP, NECA, and NSITF, the organisations have supported organisations in strengthening occupational safety and health systems, conducted risk assessments, facilitated stakeholder engagement, and recognised organisations demonstrating strong commitment to safety standards.

Looking ahead, NECA urged all stakeholders to integrate psychosocial risk management into existing workplace safety frameworks, ensuring a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to employee well-being.

As part of activities marking this year’s commemoration, NECA will host a Knowledge Sharing Session on April 30, 2026, themed: “From Compliance to Commitment: Building Sustainable Safety Cultures at Work.” The session will provide a platform for stakeholders to share insights, exchange best practices, and reinforce collective commitment to safer and healthier workplaces.

NECA therefore calls on Employers, Government Institutions, and Social Partners to continue working collaboratively to build work environments that not only drive productivity but also support the dignity, well-being, and full potential of every worker.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government is advancing a partnership with China aimed at accelerating affordable housing delivery and closing Nigeria’s widening housing gap through technology-driven and scalable solutions.

This followed a technical study tour to Guangzhou led by the director general and global liaison of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, Mr Joseph Tegbe, alongside a delegation from Family Homes Funds Limited, the office stated in a statement on Monday.

According to the agency, the delegation included the managing director, Mr Abdul Mutallab Mukhtar, and the executive director of Operations, Mr Emeka Henry Inegbu.

The engagement focused on unlocking strategic partnerships to integrate modular and prefabricated housing technologies into Nigeria’s construction ecosystem—an approach expected to significantly reduce building costs, shorten delivery timelines, and improve quality at scale.

With Nigeria’s housing deficit estimated in the millions, the federal government is increasingly prioritising industrialised construction methods and international collaboration to drive sustainable housing delivery.

Discussions also explored potential partnerships with leading engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms to strengthen execution capacity for large-scale social housing projects.

The delegation also engaged prospective financing partners to mobilise long-term capital required to fund affordable housing initiatives and expand access for low- and middle-income earners.

The agency said the meetings were facilitated by Joerno Conceptions Limited and the E-Link Group in China. The engagements were further strengthened through the cooperation of Zou Gang, the executive deputy director of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Enterprises Working Committee, underscoring the depth of institutional collaboration supporting the initiative.

The firm noted that the move signals a shift toward results-oriented bilateral engagement, where technical expertise, capital mobilisation, and policy alignment converge to deliver measurable outcomes.

“By leveraging China’s advanced construction capabilities to meet Nigeria’s urgent housing needs, the partnership is positioned not only to expand access to affordable homes but also to stimulate job creation, strengthen local value chains, and enhance urban resilience,” it said.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos State Government has signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) with three firms- Fenchurch Power, Mainland Power, and Viathan for about 60MW of generation.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a statement, noted that plans to scale capacity to 200–400MW within two to three years through market-driven investments under the Lagos State Electricity Law 2024, aligned with the Nigerian Electricity Act.

He noted that the agreements were executed on behalf of the state by Mr Abiodun Ogunleye, the state’s commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources,  alongside representatives of the three firms at Lagos House, Marina.

According to Mr Sanwo-Olu, the signing of three power purchase agreements is designed to build on existing capacity and address what has not been working.

He said Fenchurch Power will support the state’s major water facilities in Adiyan and Iju, while Mainland Power will continue serving Ikeja, Oshodi, and Anthony, with room for expansion.

“Viathan will maintain a stable power supply to key facilities on the Island as we strengthen its integration with the distribution network,” he said.

The Governor insisted that the government will no longer pay for power that is not delivered, explaining that the commercial capital has updated those agreements to reflect current market realities.

“Payments are now tied to actual, metered supply, helping the government to reduce waste and manage costs more effectively,” he added.

He emphasised that the agreement means more reliable power for public infrastructure, better use of state resources, and a clear path to scale capacity over the next few years.

On his part, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Ogunleye, stated that development is an attempt to expand generation and revive dormant assets to support a sustainable energy supply.

He noted that the power companies at the moment operate a combined generating capacity of about 60MW and plan to scale up to between 200MW and 400MW within two to three years through market-based investments rather than public spending.

Providing a further breakdown of the network, Mr Ogunleye revealed that Mainland Power, with an installed capacity of 8.8MW, located in the Ikeja GRA axis, has a contracted capacity of 5.8MW, supplying power to strategic public facilities, including the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and other substations within the state’s network.

He also noted that the Akute Independent Power Plant, now operated by Fenchurch Power, has a contracted capacity of 26MW and is being repositioned as a major energy hub.

The commissioner said the plant, which had been dormant for about five years, is undergoing rehabilitation and upgrades under a long-term operational agreement and is expected to serve surrounding communities, including Adiyan Water Works.

Viathan Engineering, according to him, is expected to service the Island/Lekki corridor, overseeing the Peninsula Integrated Power Project with a combined installed capacity of 21MW — 6MW in Lekki and 15MW in Marina.

Both facilities are expected to supply electricity to major government and health facilities, including Lagos Government House, Lagos Island General Hospital, and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital.