Why workers should live close to workplaces – lecturer

Dr. John Okesoto, Chief Lecturer, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), says there is a correlation between the distance to a worker’s workplace and his productivity.

The chief lecturer called on governments to provide affordable staff quarters near offices to enable workers toaccess their workplaces with ease and be more productive.

Okesoto made the suggestion while delivering Yabatech’s 15th Inaugural Lecture Series for 2024 on Thursday evening.

The lecturehad the title ‘The Poor, the Pot, and the Bed’.

He said: “The poor represent the low-working income group in both the public and private sectors: those in low-paid occupations such as housework, unskilled labourers, and artisans".

According to him, ‘the pot’ is the workplace of the individual who provides income for the household, from which family members draw their expenses for housing, food, health, investments, transportation, and education.

“Pot is usually found in the kitchen, not too far from the bedroom,” he said.

Okesoto described ‘the bed’ as representing housing.

“Housing is a basic human need and a place of abode.

“The pots of poor workers are far from their beds due to their poor incomes which directly impact their choices of location for their homes,” he said.

He said that many poor workers lived far from their workplaces because they could not afford housing near their workplaces.

According to him, the situation impacts negatively on the gross domestic product as well as the carbon footprint of the environment.

“It is therefore necessary that something be done to make the working poor live closer to where they work and to make the poor sleep closer to where the pot is.

“All government and non-government establishments with more than 99 staffers should be mandated to make provision for staff quarters,” he said.

The chief lecturer also said that employers could consider providing staff quarters through a public-private partnership.

He said that living far from workplaces impacted on workers’ living standards and made them less productive as they spent more money, time and energy on commuting.

In his remarks, the Rector of Yabatech, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, said that the lecture addressed the intricate dynamics that characterised the social, economic and cultural landscape of Lagos State.

“As an institution of learning, we are not just about academics; we are also about community and social responsibility.

“The aim of this lecture is to deepen our understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist within our urban landscape and to spark a renewed sense of

purpose in addressing the complex issues that affect the well-being of our fellow citizens.

“We are presented with a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the multi-faceted nature of Lagos and explore the interplay between wealth and poverty,” he said.

The rector also said that the lecture presented an opportunity to examine the societal structures that impacted the lives of Lagos inhabitants and to reflect on the ways to contribute to creating a more equitable, inclusive, and prosperous urban environment.

He thanked the chief lecturer for sharing his knowledge.

“ I am confident that the insights and perspectives shared by our esteemed speaker today will serve as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue and critical reflection,” he added.

Supreme News reports that Okesoto is a member ofthe Nigeria Institute of Town Planners.

He has written no fewer than 69 conference papers, contributed to 63 journals, and edited four books.