FG advises workers against sedentary lifestyles, launches fitness centre

The Federal Government has advised civil servants against sedentary lifestyles capable of making them to suffer mental and physical illness.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, gave the advice Tuesday in Abuja at the commissioning of a newly established employee wellness centre for all categories of workers.

According to her, civil servants should make the best use of the services being offered by the centre, which guarantee a healthy and productive workforce.

“I urged you (civil servants) to eschew sedentary lifestyles which, contribute greatly to sudden deaths occasioned by ailments caused, majorly, by stress. 

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A healthy body translates into significant reduction in medical conditions, thereby enhancing the output of workers, in particular, and the attainment of national developmental goals, in general,” she said. 

She said seminars on topical health issues, mental health counselling and the promotion of regular health screening for early detection of medical conditions are some of the services the centre would provide.

She  noted that the world is witnessing an unprecedented rise in work-related diseases, sudden deaths and other health challenges that impact negatively on the overall wellbeing of workers as well as their productivity.

According to her, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that about 2.3m workers around the world succumb to work-related accidents or diseases, every year.

She also said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had taken proactive measures to enhance the value proposition and welfare of civil servants as articulated in the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP 25).