The Senate has urged the federal government to establish a compensation scheme for coal miners following a fatal landslide at a mining site in Kogi which claimed the lives of 20 miners.

This followed the adoption of a motion moved under orders 41 and 51 of the Senate standing rules and sponsored by Jibrin Isah (APC-Kogi) at the plenary on Wednesday in Abuja.

In his motion, Mr Isah said unsafe coal mining activities in the Anakpa Local Government Area and other coal-bearing communities in Kogi State posed escalating safety, environmental and humanitarian risks.

He said coal mining remained a major economic activity in Enjema, Okaba and Ikah communities in the Ankpa LGA and parts of Omala and Olamaboro LGAs, which form part of the Ankpa coal block in the Anambra Basin.

Mr Isah said the geological composition of the area, including laterite, loose sandstone, mudstone, clay, shale and unconsolidated sediments, made the mining sites highly susceptible to subsidence, landslides and ground failure.

He said a major landslide occurred on July 14 at Alufele in Enjema district, trapping artisanal and small-scale miners underground while several trucks reportedly sank into mining pits during loading operations.

The lawmaker said the incident resulted in the death of 20 workers and left several others injured.

He attributed the recurring accidents to unsafe mining practices, particularly the widespread use of the room-and-pillar mining method without adequate structural reinforcement.

Mr Isah expressed concern that many miners operated without written employment contracts, health insurance, life insurance or occupational hazard cover, leaving victims and their families without compensation after accidents.

He said the continued occurrence of mine collapses threatened lives, degraded the environment and underscored the need for urgent legislative and executive intervention.

Seconding the motion, Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), said fatal mining accidents had become a recurring challenge across mining communities in Nigeria.

“The issue of mining collapse has become a recurring decimal with the attendant and concomitant effects of deaths, injuries and what have you to miners across the nooks and crannies of the country in mining communities.

“The only panacea to this ugly scenario is to come up with laws and regulations guiding mining practice in Nigeria,” he said.

The Senate, thereafter, in its other resolutions, urged the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, particularly its artisanal and small-scale mining department, to conduct an audit of licensed miners.

It specifically urged the ministry to conduct the audit operations across the country to strengthen monitoring and regulation.

It called on the federal government to establish a mining workers’ compensation scheme funded through mandatory contributions from licensed mining operators.

The Senate said this would cover occupational injuries, permanent disabilities, occupational diseases and deaths arising from mining activities.

It further directed its committee on solid minerals development to draft legislation establishing the compensation scheme.

The Senate also urged the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals development to develop compulsory occupational accident insurance for all categories of miners.

It noted that this includes artisanal and small-scale miners operating under recognised mining cooperatives or community mining arrangements.

The Senate called for the establishment of a mining rehabilitation and victims support fund to provide emergency medical treatment, rehabilitation, compensation, and educational support for children of deceased miners and affected families.

The Senate mandated its committees on solid minerals development, environment, labour, employment and productivity and health to interface with relevant ministries, departments and agencies and report back within six weeks.

It, thereafter, observed a minute’s silence in honour of the victims of the July 14 landslide.

(NAN)