The Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) is set for a significant transformation as only Health and Safety practitioners certified by the newly elected National Executive Committee will be recognized to practice in the country.
This decision marks a crucial step toward unifying the institute, which has been divided by internal conflicts since 2016.
The unification process, driven by the House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards, will culminate in an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and a Unity Conference, scheduled to take place in Abuja from October 17th to 19th, 2024. During this event, new executives will be elected to govern ISPON as a unified body, a move expected to restore professionalism and standardization within the institute.
Speaking on the development, Chairman of the House Committee on Safety Standards, Abubakar Gumi, emphasized the importance of this reformation. He noted that the new executives, once elected, will be responsible for revalidating and issuing fresh certifications to Health and Safety practitioners across Nigeria. These certifications will be the only ones recognized under the ISPON Act of 2014, reinforcing the legal framework for safety practice in the country.
Gumi highlighted the challenges that ISPON faced due to its division into three rival factions, which severely hindered the institute’s activities and effectiveness. Despite numerous reconciliation efforts by various stakeholders, including the Inspector General of Police, the American Society of Safety Professionals, and the Nigerian military, lasting peace remained elusive until the intervention of the National Assembly.
“The creation of a Caretaker Committee (CTC) was a critical outcome of our efforts to resolve the conflict,” Gumi explained. “This committee has been tasked with organizing the upcoming conference and AGM, ensuring that the election process is fair and inclusive for all factions. The successful reconciliation of these groups marks a new beginning for ISPON, one that prioritizes the safety and well-being of all Nigerians.”
Past President of ISPON, Mr. Shaw Fregene, who played a key role in the establishment of the ISPON Act, attributed the institute’s crisis to selfish interests and a disregard for the legal guidelines governing leadership tenure. Fregene stressed that adherence to the Act is vital for the integrity of the organization and the protection of practitioners’ rights.
Similarly, former Secretary of ISPON, Mr. Iyenoma Osazee, underscored the benefits of being an ISPON member, noting that the institute’s division had led to the proliferation of foreign bodies and a decline in professionalism within the safety industry. He called for strict regulation, drawing comparisons to South Africa, where foreign health and safety qualifications must be certified by local authorities before practitioners are allowed to operate.
As part of the reconciliation process, all Health and Environmental Safety (HES) practitioners in Nigeria are urged to obtain the new ISPON certification to continue practicing. This revalidation exercise is a critical step in restoring the institute’s authority and ensuring that only qualified professionals are allowed to contribute to the safety sector.
The House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards has also called on stakeholders to support ISPON’s upcoming Unity Conference through sponsorship, recognizing that this event will play a pivotal role in strengthening safety standards nationwide.
This unification effort not only promises to enhance the professionalism within ISPON but also has far-reaching implications for the safety standards across Nigeria. By restoring order and coherence to the institute, the initiative sets a precedent for how professional bodies can overcome internal strife to serve the greater good of society.
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