Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas Thursday said Nigeria must urgently modernise its occupational safety laws to protect millions of workers who face preventable risks daily in work places.
He stated this while declaring open a public hearing on the Occupational Health and Safety Bill, 2025, organised by the House of Representatives Committees on Safety Standards and Regulation and Labour, Employment and Productivity.
Abbas warned that Nigeria’s workforce continues to suffer injuries, illnesses and deaths that could have been avoided if stronger regulations and enforcement mechanisms were in place.
“Across several industries, workers still face hazards that undermine their dignity and productivity. Many of these tragedies are preventable,” he said.
The speaker noted that unsafe scaffolding, collapsing structures, exposure to harmful chemicals, toxic gases, offshore operations, and poorly maintained machinery remain common in sectors that drive the economy, particularly construction, manufacturing, agriculture and oil and gas.
He said the old regulatory framework has failed to keep pace with technological changes, modern standards, and the growing complexity of workplace environments.
“The current system suffers from outdated regulations, weak enforcement, and inadequate institutional frameworks. This bill seeks to close those gaps and establish a harmonised national safety architecture,” he explained.
Abbas added that the proposed law gives renewed attention to workers in the informal sector, healthcare workers, transport operators, and artisans who, despite forming the bulk of the country’s workforce, are among the least protected.
According to him, a safer labour force will translate into higher productivity, reduced medical costs, fewer disruptions, and stronger investor confidence, noting that the benefits would extend to national development and Nigeria’s standing in the global economy.
He praised the Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations for its diligence and welcomed stakeholders participating in the hearing, urging them to provide practical, constructive suggestions to strengthen the Bill.
“This public hearing reflects our belief that effective laws emerge when the voices of industry experts, unions, professionals, and regulators are heard,” he said.
Abbas reaffirmed the House’s commitment to passing a strong and impactful Occupational Health and Safety law that will protect workers and improve workplace standards nationwide.
Chairman of the House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, Hon. David Zacharias, described the proposed Occupational Safety and Health Bill as a historic milestone for Nigeria, saying the country is finally taking decisive steps toward modernising its outdated workplace safety laws.
He said the legislation marks a transformative moment for workplace safety after decades of relying on laws that no longer reflect the realities of Nigeria’s evolving work environment.
“This is not just a legislative formality; it is a historic milestone for Nigeria,” he said.
“After years of persistent advocacy from safety professionals, organised labour, industry leaders and concerned citizens, the Occupational Safety and Health Bill now stands before the public for consideration.”
Zacharias commended the Committees on Safety Standards and Regulations and Labour, Employment and Productivity, as well as the Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who sponsored the bill.
He said their collective commitment helped bring the legislation to this critical stage.
Zacharias said millions of Nigerian workers continue to face daily hazards—chemical exposure, unsafe machinery, building collapses, infectious diseases, transportation-related incidents and ergonomic strain—often without adequate protection.
He noted that the Bill responds to these challenges by strengthening preventive measures, clarifying employer obligations and extending protections to vulnerable groups, especially those in the informal sector.
He added that the agricultural sector—where millions of Nigerians work—would benefit from safer pesticide handling and better training on machinery. The bill also introduces stronger biosafety measures and infection control for healthcare workers who are regularly exposed to risks.
For the first time, traders, drivers, mechanics, artisans and others in the informal economy would be covered under a unified national framework.
The Federal Fire Service urged to the House to clarify certain provisions in the proposed Occupational Safety and Health Bill to avoid conflicts with existing fire safety laws and responsibilities.
Represented by Chief Superintendent of Fire (CSF) Sarki Abdul-Rahman, the Service said it supports the overall goal of the Bill but identified a few areas that require adjustment.
Abdul-Rahman said the Fire Service operates a wider mandate that covers all environments, not just workplaces, and therefore any provisions relating to fire protection, fire prevention or emergency response must align with the Fire Service Act, the National Building Code and the Fire Code.
