Workplace violence prevention is important in Nigeria as it affects employee performance and productivity. There are different types of workplace violence such as criminal intent, customer/client, and worker-to-worker. Nigeria does not have direct laws addressing workplace violence but some provisions exist in the constitution and penal code. Key elements to prevent workplace violence include fostering a healthy work environment, having proper security measures, providing education to employees, and being aware of warning signs. Management must be involved to successfully implement prevention programs.

1. WORKPLACE VIOLENCE
PREVENTION IN NIGERIA

2. Workplace violence is a form of physical abuse or threat, that creates a risk
to the health and safety of an employee or employees.
Workplace violence affects performance and productivity of affected
persons within an organization and the organization by extension.
Most organizations capture workplace violence under their code of ethics.
Nigeria does not have laws that directly address workplace violence.
Introduction

3. Types of Workplace Violence
• Criminal Intent - the perpetrator has no legitimate relationship to
the business or its employees, and is usually committing a crime
in conjunction with the violence
• Customer/Client - This considers the customer/client relationship
to include client and worker. Eg a customer and a banker.
• Worker – Worker – This is between coworkers. It includes
bullying, verbal and emotional abuse. E.g Senior to Junior and
Junior/ senior
• Personal Relationship - the perpetrator has a relationship with the
worker outside of work that spills over to the work environment.
eg, a husband may follows a worker to threaten the worker.

4.  Beatings
 Stabbings
 Pushing
 Shootings
 Rape
 Verbal Harassment
Examples of Workplace Violence
• Threats or obscene
phone calls
• Intimidation
• Harassment of any
nature
• Being shouted at
• Verbal threats
Impact on employees includes fear, stress, depression, anxiety

5. The Nigerian constitution does not provide for workplace violence,
it however treated under Some of the laws in Nigeria that speak on
harassment. These include:
 Section 34 of the Constitution
 The Penal code ( Section 281, 282 and 285)
 Criminal code( Section 351, 352 & 360) and VAPP Act ( 46, 47)
 Lagos State Prohibition Against Domestic Violence Law 2007
Workplace Violence & the Nigerian Law

6.  Work Environment - Fostering a healthy work environment and he
creation of buddy system iis a critical step in addressing workplace
violence.
 Security – Having a dedicated security department, it is important that
this staff is equipped with the proper resources to include continual
training in threat assessment and identification and proper response
levels. Restricting movement of public using controlled access cards
 Education - Continuing education and communication for employees at
all levels is another crucial factor in workplace violence prevention
 Observation & Awareness - Observation of warning signs that could be
indicative of a potential incident.
Prevention Program Elements

7. Other Preventive Actions
Employees should be mindful of the following in
the work place to prevent attack.
o Evaluate each situation
o Be vigilant, alert of your surroundings
o Do not isolate yourself
o Always keep an open path for exiting

8.  Work Environment - Fostering a healthy work environment is
a critical step in addressing workplace violence
 Security – Having a dedicated security department, it is
important that employees are equipped with the proper
resources to include continual training in threat assessment and
identification and proper response levels.
 Education - Continuing education and communication for
employees at all levels is another crucial factor in workplace
violence prevention
 Observation & Awareness - Observation of warning signs that
could be indicative of a potential incident.
Management Input Towards Prevention f Workplace
Violence

9. Violence in the workplace gives warning signs from when there
are character flaws to a well behaved employee and when a
person denied promotion to situations of constant sadness the
signs can be picked up.
Do not be a victim. Know your rights within the law and your
organization to protect yourself.
Conclusion