By Christiana Ekpa
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said on Thursday that the nation must urgently modernise its occupational safety laws to protect millions of workers who face preventable risks daily in factories, construction sites, farms, hospitals, and other workplaces.
He stated this while declaring open a public hearing on the Occupational Health and Safety Bill, 2025, which was organized 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“The current system suffers from outdated regulations, weak enforcement, and inadequate institutional frameworks.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, Rt. Hon. David Idris 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.
